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November 14, 2012 at 16 years old I was diagnosed with B-Cell Lymphoma by Dr. Jones here in Poplar Bluff. He immediately called St. Jude’s and within an hour of being diagnosed an Oncologist from St. Jude’s called my mom to reassure her I was going to get the best care.

November 17, 2012, I walked into St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital for the first time. The very first person we met reassured my whole family that I was in the best hands and would be well taken care of. She wasn’t even a doctor or nurse; she was a receptionist that had to check us in. But that one person gave us so much hope that I would be ok.

After further testing at St. Jude’s they discovered my condition was a little more serious than we thought. I had tumors all over my organs and my airway was partially blocked. St. Jude’s doesn’t just give you one doctor and one nurse, they give you an entire team. I had multiple oncologist and nurses working together to determine the best course of treatment for me. After a few days of contemplating it they decided I would undergo 5 intensive rounds on Chemotherapy. They also told me I wouldn’t be able to return home or back to school until my treatment was completed. It was my junior year of high school I was determine to make it back for my prom!

After the first round of chemo they discovered all my tumors shrunk by 50% But we still had a long road ahead of us. St. Jude’s gave us an apartment to stay in through my treatment, they had a school program to I wouldn’t fall behind, then the best part was they had a prom I was able to attend on campus. When I got bored, they always found things to for me to do, thing like painting my finger nails or even shoot my nurses with nerf guns. My team always made sure my spirits were up so I was strong enough to fight through chemo.

March 13th, 2013 after 5 intensive rounds of chemo, 2 major surgeries, and countless minor procedures I was cancer free! I was set to go home and return back to my friends at school. This story doesn’t even begin to tell you the things St. Jude’s did for me. This year I am grateful to say they keep adding to the list.

Once a patient at St. Jude’s they follow you for life. I will return for yearly check ups until I’m 27 year. The best part of my story starts here. After getting married to my best friend in May of 2018 we discovered due to chemo scarring I was unable to conceive a child naturally. At my check up for 2018 St. Jude’s was informed and started immediately running test on me. Little did I know that St. Jude’s started a fertility clinic in 2016. After a day of test and many doctors talking about it, St. Jude’s decided they would pay for OVER HALF of my IVF treatment. I am the oldest and first St. Jude patient that was ready to use the harvested eggs. I am now 24 years old and 7 months pregnant with the first St. Jude’s baby!

Jessa Louise Ormsby will make her grand appearance in August and will always know what a wonderful place St. Jude’s is. I love my St. Jude’s family, not only did they save my life but they helped create my daughter’s life. I pray my child never has to go through the treatment I did but I am at peace knowing there’s a place like St. Jude’s if she ever needs it.

Things St. Jude’s paid for (Everything)

Housing

Fuel

Groceries

Prom Dress

Limo to Prom

Nail Polish

Anything I needed all I had to do was ask. If they couldn’t find it they found someone that could!