Meet St. Jude Patient Eliza Leatherman

At St. Jude, Eliza was found to have an extremely rare form of rhabdomyosarcoma, a soft tissue tumor. During a four-hour surgery, St. Jude doctors removed the tumor as well as her right lung -- a drastic step that nevertheless ensured they had gotten every last bit of the cancer.

After Eliza’s surgery and the removal of her lung, her organs began to shift. This caused her spine to curve and endangered her health. Two years ago, St. Jude covered the costs of an experimental procedure that used titanium rods to straighten her spine and reposition her organs.

Ann and Bobby never gave up on Eliza, “St. Jude was there for her when she was little, and they were there for her two years ago,” says a grateful Ann.

Thanks to the loyal support of donors, Eliza Leatherman and thousands of other St. Jude patients like her are now cancer free and living healthy, productive lives -- preparing for first proms, final exams and family vacations.

Once upon a time, doctors did not expect children like Eliza to live to see adulthood. Now, on the occasion of her daughter’s first prom, Ann is still overwhelmed that Eliza has the opportunity to be a teenager. “There was a time we weren’t sure Eliza would survive. Now we get to experience all these milestones with her. It’s amazing.” Bright and full of life, Eliza excels in school and was recently elected junior class president. She has her driver’s license and plays tennis on her school team.

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