I don’t get paid by St. Jude, but I love to working with such wonderful organization. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that this organization really changed my life.

The disease is strong, it spreads, it’s unpredictable and there is no cure. So imagine seeing all this hurt in your child and not being able to afford care, provide comfort, or know what to do. Now, imagine there is a place where you literally don’t have to worry about anything other than spending time with your child? That place is called St. Jude.

Now, to be fair, my child never received treatment there. He was fortunate to have surgery and receive treatment at an amazing local hospital, but even with top insurance coverage his treatment cost more than $20,000 in deductibles and the amount will continue to rise, as he will always need a special type of doctor visit or imaging scan. To many, that may be too much, even impossible, to endure. That’s where the blessing of St. Jude families comes in.

When a child enters their care, the cost of treatment is a non-factor. The hospital provides housing, meals, and in some cases schooling for the children that are receiving treatment. The families at St. Jude worry about nothing other than their family. This is a great relief to some of the burdens that cancer brings.

So you wonder, how can a child receive such treatment at St. Jude and who is paying for it. Cases and types of cancer vary. Funding is by donation only. It is important to note that even if a child can’t receive treatment at St. Jude, St. Jude does share their research with hundreds of hospitals around the world. That’s why more than ever funding is important. When you donate to St. Jude, you are in part donating and helping children not just in the United States but all over the world. And this is all possible thanks to donations of people like you and me. Awareness IS HUGE.

Last year I had the privilege to visit St. Jude. I didn’t think I could handle it emotionally, but I have to say, St. Jude is one of the most beautiful, calm, peaceful, and dare I say fun places I’ve visited. The care that the hospital has put into their children is beyond exceptional. I remember on one of the tours they told us a story about a child who didn’t want to eat anything at the cafeteria. The kitchen team reached out to this child’s home town and found the recipe to his favorite dish. They set out the mission to make this child feel at home. Feeling like you are at home during such a hard time is no easy task, yet St. Jude provides that with such ease and impeccable class. They spare no detail in taking care of their children.

As this year passes I reflect on that trip and how amazing it was. I want to thank them for really treating not only their patients but also me, like family. I will never forget and I will continue to support them in their fight against cancer.