Instead of running RSS sponsorships this month, I’m raising $10,000 in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as part of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Click here to learn more and donate.
When your child is diagnosed with cancer — or any other catastrophic disease — life implodes. Things that used to matter don’t anymore, and the things that remain are stretched, often to a breaking point.
My family is extremely lucky to be from Memphis, the home of St. Jude. Even in the busiest days of Josiah’s chemotherapy, we were able to grab some sleep at home. We went the same grocery store as we already had.
Most importantly, Merri and I were able to be with Josiah together. The majority of families we’ve met over the last five years at St. Jude are split, as they are traveling to Memphis to receive treatment, undergo scans and more. Most families make countless trips through Memphis International Airport
St. Jude not only pays for this endless stream of plane tickets, but houses families in three hospital-managed facilities for those staying in town, whether it’s overnight or for months at a time.
On the surface, this isn’t related to healthcare. But it’s absolutely critical to a patient’s well-being that their family life is as normal as possible during what can be a years-long ordeal.
St. Jude does far more than provide a bed for family members. On-campus meals (in what has to be the best hospital cafeteria on Earth) are free, travel between housing and the hospital is free and local drivers are treated to valet parking, making it safer and easier to get patients into the building. There are social workers and chaplains on-site, and there’s some giant, themed party just about every other week.
All of these things take stress away from families. As a parent, it means I can focus as much of my attention on my son, and not worry about logistics. While this may seem small compared to the overwhelming fact that the hospital is already covering all the medical bills, it makes a world of difference. St. Jude does everything it can to soften the rough edges many find in the healthcare industry.
If home is where the heart is, ours are at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN.