St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, treats about 260 patients per day. The hospital has about 5,100 patients and many of them are being treated on an outpatient basis. 

“St. Jude is the first institution established for the sole purpose of conducting basic and clinical research and treatment into catastrophic childhood diseases, mainly cancer. St. Jude continues to be the only National Cancer Institute–funded cancer center devoted solely to children” (St. Jude facts). Also, if families can’t pay because of lack of insurance coverage, the families don’t have to pay for treatment at St. Jude. No child is ever turned away from St. Jude because of a family’s inability to pay. Over 80% of every dollar donated goes towards medical research and treatment of patients.

This mask commemorates one patients completion of radiation treatment.  It was used to hold them to the table as they go through treatment.  It is formed to their face and they must lay completely still while the treatment is occurring.