Letter to the editor

St. Jude comes through again in treating child’s rare eye cancer

I am writing to encourage all those who give to St. Jude’s Childrens Research Hospital to continue to do so and to encourage those who have ever had a desire to start now.

I recently experienced St. Jude because on July 2 my beautiful two year old son was diagnosed with a rare eye cancer called retinobastoma.

You can imagine the devastation my family felt when we learned our baby Jacob had cancer. What a blow. We heard the diagnosis on Monday and were at St. Jude the very next day. Words cannot describe the way the staff, other patients and even the building made us feel. The best way I can describe it is, God’s love can be felt pouring out of St. Jude comforting those who need it in a very big way.

I’ve known about St. Jude all of my life. I raised money as a child in school. I have donated as an adult, but it always seemed like a distant place with distant people. It had no real place in my heart.

My prayer is that through this letter, St. Jude can become a little more real to those in this area. It is a real place where real children, parents and families go in a time of great need. The fact that St. Jude offers its patients and their families the best care and expects nothing in return confirms it for me.

This is God’s hospital and it needs our support. I am happy to report that Jacob is now cancer free and enjoying life every bit as much as before. Cosmetically he’s a little bit different, but he’s cancer free and can see. We have been so blessed and St. Jude is a primary one. This community was amazing with its support and out pouring of love during our family’s time of crisis. And we thank you so much for that.

Our crisis is over, but many families’ has just begun. Let’s continue to do God’s work by supporting and loving St. Jude:

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, Tenn. 38101.

1-800-822-6344.

Thank you,

Jodi Gowen, Batesville