Ellie’s Storymedulloblastoma
On January 10, 2022, Eleano — “Ellie” to family and friends — seemed like her normal self. The very next day, the right side of her face wouldn’t move. An MRI found that Ellie had a cancerous tumor in her brain, diagnosed as medulloblastoma. She was referred to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, where a second MRI found the cancer had spread to her spine.
At St. Jude, Ellie’s treatment included brain surgery, chemotherapy and proton therapy. She finished treatment in February 2023 and has remained cancer free. She returns to St. Jude for regular checkups. “St. Jude is the best place ever,” said her mom. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Ellie loves shopping and swimming and can’t wait to start school. She’s a daredevil. “She is the most outgoing, outspoken, smart little girl,” said her mom. “She’s a little spunky spitfire. If they say a 3-year-old can’t do it, she’s doing it.”
What is St. Jude?
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer.
Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent.
But St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer.
Beyond treating children in the U.S., St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes on a global scale so doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands of more children. Part of what sets St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital apart is its unique operating model aligned with its lifesaving mission. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – a feat made possible from the generosity of donors like you.
Since 2005, DXL Big + Tall has partnered with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to raise over $19 million, supporting St. Jude families and funding cancer research. In the past, DXL has funded initiatives like the Light Microscopy Center, a shared resource lab on the St. Jude campus where researchers work towards curing life-threatening pediatric diseases.
DXL employees continue to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in various ways, including spending time with patients and their families at the hospital and participating in the annual St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer.
Stay connected with St. Jude and learn more about its work and mission by following the organization on social media.
Follow St. Jude on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and subscribe to their channel on YouTube.
You can also learn more about St. Jude by visiting their website at stjude.org.