S2E3 | Giving back, buoyed by a lifetime of support

Holly had a storybook childhood. She lived in a small town and spent her days running around the neighborhood with friends and playing sports. But when she was 12, a nagging pain appeared in her leg. After visits to several doctors, she got an unthinkable diagnosis: cancer. Holly thought that was the end for her. Then she arrived at St. Jude — and felt hopeful.

“That first time, they just came right up to us, gathered us, took us in,” Holly says. “Everybody's happy, which makes you, as a patient and a family, feel so much more comfortable being there.” She got to know her nurses and fellow patients — people who understood what she was going through.

Holly also stayed closely connected to her community, shuttling back and forth between home and St. Jude for treatment. And her community stepped up to support her. After her treatment, she grew up and began giving back. “We’re all going through different things,” she says. “In this big, scary world, we all need a little grace and kindness.”

St. Jude Storied Lives is a production of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. This podcast series explores the experiences of survivors, letting you get to know the person and not just the diagnosis. St. Jude understands that every patient’s journey through treatment is unique. Listeners who have questions about their situation, diagnosis or treatment options should talk to their physician. These personal stories are not intended to provide medical advice.

Credits
Host: Joel Alsup
Producer: Geoffrey Redick
Editor: Grace Korzekwa Evans 
Music production: Kazimir Boyle
Recorded by: Jason Latshaw, Nathan Black, Bobby Mitchell, Orlando Palaez and Dan Yohey