Promise – Summer 2002

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 1112 Memphis, TN PromiseA publication of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Summer 2002 Charmel Vaughn: Public Relations Department 332 N. Lauderdale Sound Rebound Memphis, Tennessee 38105-2794 Sound Rebound 901-495-3306 Main hospital line: 901-495-3300 Donations: 1-800-822-6344 Physicians referrals: 1-888-226-4343 Public information: 901-495-3306 Visit our Web site at www.stjude.org. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities and ALSAC are registered trademarks. Summer 2002 Promise ii Promise is a quarterly publication of the Department of Public Relations St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital was founded by the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 332 N. Lauderdale A publication of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Summer 2002 late entertainer Danny Thomas. It opened February 4, 1962. The hospital Memphis, Tennessee 38105 Promise St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s mission is to find cures for was created because of a promise Danny made during the depression era to children with catastrophic diseases Features through research and treatment. 3 Click. St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of the hopeless. Hospital Director Donor Howard Jones Arthur W. Nienhuis, MD ALSAC National Executive Director Richard C. Shadyac 4 Sound Rebound “Show me my way in life,” Danny prayed. In return, Danny promised to build ALSAC/St. Jude Vice President of Christian rapper Charmel Vaughn Communications and Public Relations St. Jude Thaddeus a shrine. That shrine became a hospital that would treat Jerry Chipman Director of Public Relations Judith W. Black 9 Cooking Up a Fund-Raiser children regardless of race, color, creed or their ability to pay. This remarkable ALSAC Director of Communications Two decades of bake sales George Shadroui event also inspired the name of this magazine, Publications Manager Lois M. Young 10 Tailoring Treatment Editor A revolutionary genetic screening technique Promise. Elizabeth Jane Walker Art Director Jessica W. Anderson Photo Editor 15 In Their Own Words Phillip Murphy St. Jude poets Photographers Seth Dixon Laura Hajar 19 Less Pain, More Gain Evanne Newman Pain management at St. Jude Contributing Writers Tanuja Coletta Joe Hanna Alicia H. Matthews Highlights Guest Author Daphne Dawn Harrison Terral 2 Day of Remembrance Editorial Advisory Board Sandra d’Azzo, PhD Research Highlights Bonnie Cameron Leslie Davidson Pat Flynn, MD Perspective Amar Gajjar, MD Mark Hendricks 24 Daphne Dawn Harrison Terral Lisa Hill Ed Horwitz, MD, PhD A survivor for nearly four decades Julia Cay Jones, PhD Dana Marshall, PhD Ken Massey David McKee Promise is now available on the Internet! Keri Meyer Check us out at www.stjude.org/Promise. Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, MD Clinton Stewart, PharmD Jerrylaine Walker, PhD Sally Wiard St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is an equal-opportunity employer. For inquiries about John Zacher stories in this publication, call the Public Relations department at (901) 495-3306 or e-mail St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee [email protected]. Visit our Web site at www.stjude.org/Promise. Articles and photos may be reprinted with permission. ©2002. On the cover: St. Jude patient Charmel Vaughn. Photo by Seth Dixon. Highlights Click. One simple act has far-reaching consequences. LAURA HAJAR BY ALICIA H. MATTHEWS Sometimes the flip of a switch continued to be supporters through have special meaning to Jones Children and emotions can affect a person’s life forever. the years,” says Jones, a real estate because he wrote them. Children with cancer and other Such a situation occurred nearly investor who lives in Santa Ana, Some people might not under- serious illnesses often adapt to their 30 years ago, when Howard Jones California. stand why a person who lives in conditions by repressing their emo- came home from the office and He later met the entertainer California would support a hospi- tions and covering up feelings of turned on his TV set. when Los Angeles County honored tal in Memphis, but Jones under- depression and anxiety, according “My wife and I were watching a Thomas for his humanitarian work stands that St. Jude research find- to a new study. television show that featured on behalf of children. Because of ings help children everywhere. Children may block out depres- Danny Thomas talking about his prior involvement with St. Jude, That is one reason he has embraced sion and anxiety symptoms to St. Jude. It was one of his original Jones felt privileged to participate the hospital as one of his most cope with the practical demands promotions where he performed to in the program. “It was so interest- important causes. He and his wife of their illnesses. But by repressing solicit donors for the hospital,” ing to meet Danny. I could just see have established a trust that helps their feelings, children may ignore Jones recalls. “We were so touched his commitment to the kids at provide for the hospital’s current important warning signs of their by the program that it brought St. Jude,” Jones says. “When he and future needs. Jones has also St. Jude parents who have lost children during the past two years release butterfly bal- loons during Day of Remembrance in April. More than 160 people attended the fourth illness or their emotional response tears to my wife’s eyes.” came to receive his award, he even redoubled his commitment to annual event. Families and staff members reflected on their experiences together, in to it, says Sean Phipps, PhD, of That interlude in front of the tel- brought a pair of shoes with him ALSAC/St. Jude by serving on the activities designed to foster healing and closure in the grief process. St. Jude Behavioral Medicine. evision transformed the Joneses’ that represented the children who Professional Advisory Board, a The study, published in the lives; their subsequent donations of had walked in the Teenage March group of national leaders who pro- January 2002 edition of time and money in turn have for St. Jude. He wanted to salute vide guidance and support for the The gene scene AML model Psychosomatic Medicine, will help institution’s fund-raising efforts. St. Jude scientists have identified A method that enables psychologists deal with children Working alongside other PAB a defective gene that may help researchers to study the develop- who may not indicate that they One TV program 30 years members, Jones helps to generate doctors better understand some ment of one type of acute myeloid ago inspired a lifelong are distressed. commitment to St. Jude. new ideas that will help propel neurological diseases and treat leukemia (AML) in laboratory LAURA HAJAR California businessman St. Jude forward for many more nerve-degenerating accidents. mice should assist scientists study- Howard Jones and his wife decades. “The discovery could shed light ing cancer in humans. Improving treatment have established a trust After years of involvement with on the pathology of neurological The study is the first to devise a Scientists have found a new way that helps provide for the the hospital, Jones continues to hospital’s current and diseases such as Alzheimer’s dis- way of controlling the genetic of activating the anti-cancer drug future needs. hold a special place in his heart for ease, Parkinson’s disease and ret- expression of specific cellular tar- CPT-11. The discovery could lead the children of St. Jude, whose intitis pigmentosa (a degenerative gets. The method involved engi- to more effective treatment for courage never ceases to amaze him. eye disease),” says Jian Zuo, PhD, neering mice to express a mutated patients using CPT-11, improving “The kids are so enthusiastic, and of St. Jude Developmental Neuro- protein considered to be a trigger therapy of solid-tumor cancers in the personalization of care provid- biology. Researchers also found an of AML. adults and children. the kids from around ed by the doctors to each child is unexpected link between nerve “This model will help us The study describes the structure the country who had beyond anything offered at other degeneration and regeneration by devise better ways to diagnose of a rabbit liver protein that acti- participated in the walk. hospitals,” Jones says. “Because of studying the gene Nna1. AML, predict a patient’s chance vates CPT-11. The research, led His dedication was the vast research being conducted The discovery may help doctors for being cured using conventional by Phil Potter, PhD, and Mary unbelievable.” at St. Jude, I feel that if I needed who treat nerve-degenerating acci- therapy and develop new thera- Danks, PhD, of St. Jude Molecu- Each visit to St. Jude help I could put my grandchildren dents, such as head injuries and pies,” says James Downing, MD, lar Pharmacology, appeared in reminds Jones of that in the hands of St. Jude and not radiation-induced nerve damage. chair of St. Jude Pathology. the May 2002 issue Nature special day, because the have to worry.” The research, involving four insti- The findings were published in Structural Biology and used affected countless children suffering plaque awarded to Thomas by The click of a switch. It might tutions, was published in the the February 2002 edition of rabbit proteins purchased from from catastrophic diseases. “We L.A. County hangs in the Danny just affect the lives of generations March 2002 issue of Science. Cancer Cell. commercial sources. have been sold on the hospital Thomas/ALSAC Pavilion. The to come.l since that first encounter and have words imprinted on the plaque 2 Promise Summer 2002 Summer 2002 Promise 3 PHOTOS BY SETH DIXON ST. JUDE patient CHARMEL VAUGHN blends RAP with RELIGION.

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