Meet a Patient: Zoe

5 years old
Mississippi
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Zoe’s mom, a junior high school math teacher, had participated in the St. Jude Math-A-Thon program with her students and never thought she would need St. Jude for her own child. Zoe had always been an energetic child, so when she started to run fevers and became lethargic, her mother was concerned. The doctor thought Zoe had an inner-ear infection and prescribed antibiotics. But weeks passed and Zoe’s energy level remained low. During a return trip to the doctor, blood work was ordered. The results were devastating. Zoe suffered from acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common form of childhood cancer.

Zoe’s mom knew all about the work being done at St. Jude and asked for a referral there. At St. Jude, Zoe was enrolled in Protocol 16, a two-and-a-half year treatment plan. She receives intravenous chemotherapy once a week at St. Jude, and takes oral chemotherapy every night before bed. Zoe, who is in kindergarten, is back to being her energetic self. She loves to dance and color. And, like her mom, Zoe loves numbers.

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• Meet a patient: Zoe
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