By: Gail E. Kirkland
The petite, soft-spoken, Cinderella-look-alike with big, fluttering hazel green eyes, porcelain skin, and luscious blonde curls cascading to her mid-back is more than your average Disney World enthusiast—much more. She is a cancer survivor.
Sixteen-year-old Jennifer Rudd, a junior at Daviess County High School, exudes maturity and wisdom well beyond her years. “She’s pretty tough,” said her dad, Keith Rudd, an assessment eagerly acknowledged by her mom, Anna, and her two older sisters, Traci and Michelle, as we sat huddled together in their living room one rainy Sunday afternoon.
That same dad was the one who tearfully told his then-14-year-old daughter the biopsy results: “Well, it’s not good news.”
His next words were those of reassurance that Hodgkin’s lymphoma can be treated and cured. In fact, the cure rate is now an impressive 96 percent. Nonetheless, the remaining 4 percent weighed heavily upon the family. Traci admitted having an internal tug of war, all the while knowing that she had to be strong for everyone else. “It was all difficult,” Michelle said.
While in the Smoky Mountains during Spring Break of her 8th-grade year, Jennifer found a knot on the left side of her neck, slightly below her jawbone. Within days she saw her pediatrician, Dr. Don Neel, and an ear-nose-throat specialist, Dr. Matthew Taylor, who did a biopsy the next day. The doctors’ suspicions were confirmed. In tandem, they moved swiftly to contact St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., whose mission is “to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment.”
Jennifer summarized her feelings upon hearing the C-word from her dad: “Scared.”
However, from Day One at St. Jude, the family affirmed their outright surprise at the smiling, friendly, uplifting atmosphere surrounding them. They could not help but wonder, “Why is everybody so happy here?” Granted, they soon discovered it is not always a happy place. The unavoidable recognition that many of the cancer patients were indeed babies and youngsters fighting for their lives cut the Rudd family to the core. Yet, the first week confirmed that the positives outweighed the negatives at St. Jude.
During that week, Jennifer underwent extensive tests: chest X-rays, PET scans, CAT scans, echograms, EKGs, in addition to blood work. “It was weird,” Jennifer said in regard to going through the scanning tubes. In addition to the mass in her neck, tests revealed smaller tumors scattered throughout her chest cavity. Jennifer’s parents agreed for her to participate in an ongoing research study to benefit other children with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Amazingly, Jennifer never had to stay overnight in the hospital. At the conclusion of each day’s scans and tests, she was allowed to stay with her family at Grizzlies House, a short-term, dorm-like facility provided at no cost to St. Jude patients and their families. There they had most of the comforts of home, including two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, laundry area—plus pool tables in the commons area. By the time Jennifer left St. Jude, she had become quite a pool shark worthy of her own cue stick, according to her dad.
“No family ever pays for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization,” according to the St. Jude web site.
To that point, fundraising is an essential, crucial component of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s overall success. Emily Wood, associate director of the ALSAC office in Louisville, confirmed that 75 percent of St. Jude’s revenue comes from individual donors. As she emphasized, “Every dollar counts,” considering that operating costs equal a whopping $1.8 million—DAILY. An estimated $?? million is raised annually in Kentucky alone. The hidden benefit of the many and varied fundraising efforts is an increased awareness of St. Jude’s mission to help any child needing treatment.
During Jennifer’s 12-week chemotherapy administered via a PICC-line, she travelled back and forth to Memphis, staying overnight only as needed. She said the biggest challenge she faced was “my hair failing out.” Ironically, Jennifer is a 3-time donor to Locks of Love, first cutting off her waist-length hair at age seven and cutting it a third time just before her chemo treatment. At the onset of her freshman year, she missed several days of school while undergoing five-day radiation treatments for a month. When she did walk through the doors of DCHS, Jennifer donned a headband and a ponytail—albeit a severely thinned, miniscule ponytail. She did not want a wig or a hat, opting instead for what remained of her once beautiful ponytail.
Jennifer has been in remission since October of 2010. She still travels to St. Jude annually for a major checkup, and goes every four months for follow-up X-rays and blood work.
Some trips have been for more than medical treatment or checkups. One was an all-expense paid week-long trip to Disney World, provided by the Make-A-Wish Foundation and coordinated by the nursing staff at Owensboro’s Mitchell Memorial Cancer Center. Jennifer beamed as she described each of her seven days there. A Princess star with her name on it hangs in the ceiling at Give Kids the World, a castle-like structure there. Another dream-come-true trip landed her front and center at a Justin Bieber concert in Nashville, again compliments of the Mitchell nursing staff.
Her entire family, along with an array of friends and neighbors, has become involved with WBKR’s St. Jude Radiothon, held February 21-22. In its 10th anniversary, the radiothon hopes to surpass the $124,000 raised in 2012. WBKR’s Chad Benefield, radiothon coordinator, said Owensboro’s fundraiser is unique in that “we throw St. Jude’s playbook to the side and do our own thing.” That ‘thing’ has been quite successful, with donations jumping exponentially from $65,000 in 2009 and $81,000 in 2010.
WBKR is one of hundreds of radio stations across the nation who participates in this fundraising network entitled Country Cares, an idea spawned by Randy Owen—front man for “Alabama.” This year’s local effort kicks off with a “Denim and Diamonds” extravaganza, February 1, at the Theatre Workshop venue (once Goldie’s). The event involves local musicians and St. Jude patients joining together to entertain, to inform, and to inspire the community about this all-important fundraising effort. The $10 admission goes directly toward the St. Jude Radiothon.
Not only great individuals, but also original lyrics have evolved from this fundraising effort. Chad is writing his fourth song, which will debut during the WBKR radiothon. His first song, “Saints and Angels,” was inspired by a 4-year-old cancer patient, who deeply touched his heart.
WBKR will dedicate 13 hours each day, from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m., in an effort to exceed the $124,000 raised last year. Cancer survivors like Jennifer will be there lending their time, telling their story, sharing their talent to benefit St. Jude.
Those who listen carefully may hear Jennifer’s rendition of “You’re Gonna Miss Me,” which is beyond pitch perfect, even magical.
Jennifer’s small world certainly became brighter through the abundant love, compassion, and expert care at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.