WEEKLY NEWS
Featured patient story
Meet Liliana
Liliana likes to walk in the park and find as many flowers as she can to build her own bouquet. The little girl, with the bright smile, usually places her fresh flowers in front of a St. Jude statue she has at home. Then she gives thanks for her life, her mother, Vilma said.
Liliana is a patient at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where she was treated for liver cancer at 8 years old. She underwent a liver transplant in early 2023 and has received radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
If St. Jude didn’t exist, I don’t think I would have her with me anymore. The cancer she had was already spreading.
Liliana’s mom, Vilma
Liliana had some rough days through her recovery, but she’s now home with her parents and siblings and returning to her active self.
“She likes school, she likes to paint and she likes to play and run,” her mother said.
Vilma had to leave her job to be with her daughter during treatment and said she’s grateful that she doesn’t have to worry about the cost. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — so they can focus on helping their child live.
“All the things that they have done for her is a pretty big bill, and knowing that I don’t have to worry about it is a relief,” said her father, Rawy.
Vilma said, as soon as she walked through the doors of St. Jude, she felt peace. The hospital, she thought, would give her daughter a fighting chance.
Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — so they can focus on helping their child live.
More than six months after their arrival at St. Jude, Liliana is almost finished with chemotherapy, her mom said.
Having my daughter with me, who makes me laugh everyday, I feel very happy.
Liliana’s mom, Vilma
When you support St. Jude, you can help make cures possible for kids with cancer, like Liliana. Together, we can save more lives.
