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MONTHLY ARCHIVES
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Our Year at St. Judes Hospital
November 26, 2008 4:13 PM
Cynthia McFadden Reports:
It was just a year ago that Marlo Thomas asked me to have lunch in New York so she could discuss a subject dear to her heart: St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
To be honest my knowledge of St. Jude was vague at best. I knew Marlo's famous father, comedian Danny Thomas, had founded the hospital. (But where was it exactly?). I knew it was a place for kids with cancer, and I knew they had a massive fund raising campaign every year. (You couldn't miss the ads.). But that was about it.
And truth be told, I went to lunch not so much out of interest in St. Jude, but out of interest in Marlo who had fascinated me since her days as "That Girl".
If a lunch can change your life, this one changed mine. Marlo wanted me to go and see the hospital, meet the people who worked there and ultimately she wanted me to tell a story about the place on Nightline.
The more she talked, often with tears in her eyes, the more intrigued I became. St. Jude wasn't just a hospital; it was the largest research facility for childhood cancer in the world. No child is ever turned away because his or her family can't pay. In fact, the hospital pays for everything including getting to Memphis and living there for as long as the treatment takes. Not just for the child, but for the child's family. What's more – when the hospital was first opened (now 46 years ago) the survival rate for the most common childhood cancer ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) was only 4 percent. St. Jude announced recently survival rates of 94 percent.
And as for fund raising, Marlo and her team raise 600 million dollars a year to make real her father's promise of a living shrine to hopeless children.
She wanted me to do a story last Christmas. I wasn't sure. Instead I asked, what about letting us follow just one child over the course of the next year as he or she was treated at St. Jude. The remarkable journey of 12-year-old Daniel Biljanoski is the result.
At about the same time Marlo and I were talking he was being diagnosed with AT/RT (atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor) brain cancer – a usually deadly diagnosis. In fact his doctors in upstate New York removed a goose egg size tumor from his brain and gave him less than a year to live.
Thanksgiving night on Nightline you will see what Marlo had hoped I could see for myself – the miracle of healing at a hospital of hope.
Two remarkable and dedicated young Nightline producers shot this story from beginning to end capturing the year for you to see. And like me, they became believers.
Please watch. This story is special to all of us who were privileged to work on it.
November 26, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (10)
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I can't believe that some people are so isolated that they don't know or understand what St Judes is, what a wonderful place for children with a horrible diagnosis. If I had money, this is where it would go.
Posted by: samhiguchi | Nov 26, 2008 4:39:26 PM
I very much remember Danny Thomas and watched his show regularly. A wonderful and caring man. His name will live forever and at least as long as St Jude survives.
Posted by: Beto | Nov 26, 2008 5:58:52 PM
I had an Astrocytoma brain tumor in 1971. I was 2 at the time. I had massive doses of radiation. As a result I have paralysis on my left side. Today 2 year old children don't get radiation.
Posted by: John Whitecar | Nov 28, 2008 11:59:26 PM
The doctors said I would not walk, graduate from high school or go to college. I have done all of that and more. I have played many team sports. I have ridden by bicycle 150 miles in the MS150 bicycle tour. I have raced bicycles competativly.
Posted by: John Whitecar | Nov 29, 2008 12:08:08 AM
I have seen the St. Judes telethon on TV but had no idea patients are not charged. I just watched the story about Daniel & it was amazing. I have a rare genetic illness but nothing as bad as cancer. Great job.
Posted by: Ambreen | Nov 29, 2008 12:52:09 AM
What an amazing story of hope and healing! Daniel has such great character for a young man. My heart was moved by his sweet countenance, and by his brave heart. God must have big plans for his life! God bless you St Jude for the work you do! on behalf of these precious children
Posted by: Leslie McKinney | Nov 29, 2008 10:18:26 PM
Thank you Cynthia McFadden and your talented staff. We were on the edge of our seats during the entire piece,.... and we know Daniel. Your report awakened many of us in his community who knew of his journey, but who were buffered by his being so far away for his treatment. Your report was candid and honest. We learned a great deal in a half hour. I could not help but think of all the families that were benefitting from it even as it aired. Your hearts were in this piece and it did not go unnoticed.
Posted by: StudioMom | Dec 1, 2008 7:22:33 PM
thank you. i am grateful for any story about cancer patients and their treatments. like StudioMom said the distance insulates people from what really goes on during treatment.
thank you mostly to Daniel's family for letting you film...going through treatment is such a pressure cooker and families are tested in ways they never could imagine.
the one thing i will say is that having seen several children battle cancer...to a person they have handled it with more grace than almost any adult i have seen...sure they may get grabby, sure they cry...but they soldier on and it does not take much to put a smile on their faces.
thank you again to Daniel and his family.
i know film crews can edit however, you being able to handle that extra intrusion into your life will help and educate many.
Posted by: northstar | Dec 2, 2008 1:13:08 AM
Daniel is a student in one of my classes in Auburn. When he was diagnosed with cancer last year, we were all devastated. Less than a month later, my own father was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Last year was a very difficult year for me and seeing the strength that Daniel had and still has today helped me get through my own problems. I thought of Daniel often while I sat with my dad, hoping that my dad's GBM would go away, like Daniel's ATRT seems to have done. I also looked at and aspired to be as strong as Lisa, Daniel's mom, when I thought about losing my dad. Lisa's positivity was unbelievable and completely inspiring. I am sad to say that my dad lost his fight with GBM this past July, and we miss him dearly. I am very glad, however, that I can come to school each day and be a witness to Daniel's positivity and strength. Thanks to everyone that worked on the Nightline piece. And thank god for places like St. Jude. We will be forever in debt to the staff at St. Jude for contributing to Daniel's return to school and to life!
Posted by: Deena | Dec 2, 2008 12:20:01 PM
that was quite a story about a remarkable young man...well done. I have to admit, early in the story I cringed everytime you mentioned he was from Upstate NY, figuring he was from White Plains or something, imagine my surprise when you revealed he's from Auburn (my ex-hometown)...finally when you mention Upstate NY, you actually mean it. all kidding aside, great job on the story, that kid has a bright future ahead of him.
Posted by: Sam | Dec 2, 2008 3:02:36 PM
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