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Street Beat Web Exclusive: St. Jude

Addison Puma was one of many children who have had to courageously battle cancer.

Puma was 4-years-old when she was diagnosed with brain cancer and had to travel to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., for treatment.

The Children's Research Center hospital is one of the world's premiere centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other deadly childhood diseases. It has a 95% survival rate for acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

For eight weeks Puma received treatment at St Jude. Six of those weeks she was receiving radiation treatments and daily oral treatments.

According to Melissa Puma, Addison's mother, what the family liked the most about the hospital was the regular communication that occurred back and forth from the staff and doctor towards them. The hospital provided transportation, food and housing for them also.

With all the time spent at St. Jude hospital the Puma family didn't have to pay for the treatments.

Unlike any other hospital, St. Jude relies on funding from anybody that donates to help support its lifesaving mission of finding cures to save children battling cancer and other deadly diseases. Because of donations, families don't get charged and never receive a bill. St. Jude believes all a family should worry about is helping their child live.

To hear more about Addison's story, listen to Rob Stone's interview with her mother Melissa on this Street Beat Web Exclusive 2 Part Interview.

Part 1

Part 2

Watch Street Beat - Saturdays at 8:30am on CW50!

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