Name: Victoria
Diagnosis: Victoria was found to suffer from Burkitt lymphoma in August 2008.
When little Victoria lost a drastic amount of weight—10 pounds in less than two weeks—her mother, Mariya, was terribly worried. Victoria's skin began to turn yellow and she complained her stomach hurt. Mariya rushed her daughter to a doctor, and tests revealed devastating news: Victoria had a tumor in her abdomen.
Mariya was shocked to learn her little girl had cancer. "I almost had a heart attack," she remembered. "My heart was hurting really bad." The doctor advised that St. Jude Children's Research Hospital offered the best treatment and care for pediatric cancer and provided a referral. The hospital was 300 miles away, but if they drove all night, she could be there by morning.
At St. Jude:
Victoria quickly began receiving chemotherapy to destroy the enormous mass. Today, tests indicate that there are no more tumor cells in her body.
Victoria is home again—and back to her happy self. She likes to run, wrestle with her siblings, pose for pictures and swing on the swing set. She also loves coloring and puzzles. Now that Victoria is feeling better, the family is eager to give back. "St. Jude helped us so much, and we paid nothing," said Mariya. "For a family without a big income, a hospital like this is really important."
November 2009
