Our patients' stories

Relapsed Leukemia: Emily's Story
Emily Whitehead was the first pediatric patient enrolled in an experimental immunotherapy for advanced acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Ewing Sarcoma: Malcolm's Story
Malcolm was just 11 when he started to feel pain in his hip. A few months later, he was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare bone tumor, and began treatment at CHOP.
Medulloblastoma (Brain Tumor): Jacqueline's Story
After a CT scan revealed a medulloblastoma in Jacqueline’s brain, she underwent surgery, radiation and chemotherapy at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Pediatric Brain Tumor: Shanna's Story
In December 2006, Shanna was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She tells how the experience profoundly impacted her life, and what she’s learned from her fight.

Pediatric Brain Tumor: Sultan's Story
Sultan traveled from the Middle East after his parents learned about Dr. Jay Storm’s expertise in pediatric brain tumors.
Pediatric Brain Tumor: Mark's Story
Mark was diagnosed with a pediatric brain tumor when he was three years old and began treatment at CHOP. Now an eighth grader, he tells the story of his fight with cancer.

Pediatric Brain Tumor and Proton Therapy: Ryan’s Story
Trish Cartafalsa noticed that her 2-year-old, Ryan, was having problems with balance. Days later, he was having a pediatric brain tumor removed at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Germinoma: Mikayla's Story
Diagnosed with germinoma, a type of pediatric brain tumor, Mikayla benefited from proton therapy, an advanced form of radiation treatment offered at CHOP.

Pituitary Germinoma (Brain Tumor): Stephany's Story
Diagnosed with a brain tumor, 11-year-old Stephany and her family traveled from Brazil to Philadelphia for proton therapy treatment.

Hodgkin Lymphoma: Callum’s Story
In September 2012, 13-year-old Callum’s neck became swollen and lumpy. After appointments with doctors and specialists, Callum was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and the Cellie Cancer Coping Kit: Justin's Story
During Justin’s ALL treatment at CHOP, he and his parents participated in a research study about the Cellie Cancer Coping Kit, a unique tool to support and educate kids with cancer.

Proton Therapy for Extrarenal Rhabdoid Tumor: Laila’s Story
International patient Laila LeClerc came to CHOP from her home in Canada for proton therapy to treat extrarenal rhabdoid tumor, a rare and aggressive cancer.