Adam Walston Q&A
Chili’s server, former St. Jude Patient

Adam Walston is a Chili's Grill & Bar server from Cleveland, Tenn. diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in 1993 at age 8 and treated at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital from 1993 - 1995 by Dr. Ching-Hon Pui, one of the world's most renowned researchers in childhood leukemias. Adam graduated August 5 from Chattanooga State with a Radiologic Technology degree, is working as an X-ray tech and continuing his education to obtain a degree in radiation therapy. When he grows up, he wants to perform radiation therapy at St. Jude. We recently talked with Adam about his relationship with St. Jude and what that means to his work at Chili's Grill & Bar and the Create-A-Pepper campaign.

How did you become a patient at St. Jude?

Christmas 1992, I received a pair of roller skates. Later that day I fell and hurt my back. I began having spasms and later learned I had fractured five vertebrae. It took a couple of months and several stays at different hospitals for us to finally learn how it was possible for an 8-year-old to suffer such a tremendous injury from a not-so-serious fall. My regular pediatrician, and close family friend, suggested a bone marrow test be done, which did reveal my diagnosis of leukemia (ALL). The cancer had de-calcified my bones, causing the fractures. I was immediately referred to St. Jude, where I began my two and a half year treatment.

What drew you to work for Chili’s Grill & Bar?

I was looking for a new place to serve tables, and their Cleveland (Tenn.) restaurant was new and busy. I wanted to work in a busy and fun environment, which I had been informed, was the case by several good friends. Chili's is a very inviting place with great food, and I had several friends working there.

How do you feel about the commitment Chili’s has made to St. Jude?

I think it is awesome. They are trying to do something great. Not many people strive for greatness, but they are. Even better is that they are giving their guests the chance to be a part of it. Chili's has pledged a big number to help fund the Chili's Care Center, which I believe shows the level of commitment they have for St. Jude and what St. Jude is striving for… a cure. That's what it all comes down to. I am just glad that I have been given this opportunity to do my small part, letting them use my name and story to hopefully inspire not only ChiliHeads but guests as well.

What are you planning to do this Create-A-Pepper campaign to raise more money and awareness?

I will continue to be directly involved in the campaign. I am hoping that this will bring a big turn out to my local restaurant, which I plan on being very involved in. I am going to push for a big number there. I live in a very strong community, which I believe can and will show up in a big way.

Does your St. Jude experience inspire your team members and peers?

I feel it does. I think cancer has touched a majority of people's lives in some way or another, so it is easy for people to not only be sympathetic to my story, but also to relate on a personal level. My story and relationships may help in creating a bridge between their individual realities and the reality of what Chili's is trying to do. I think during this year's Create-A-Pepper campaign, my team members will feel more connected to what we are doing because of personally knowing someone who is a survivor because of St. Jude.

Do you currently volunteer for St. Jude? If so, how do you balance that with working and attending college full-time?

Unfortunately, I live on the east side of the state, so I am not able to volunteer. However, it is a desire of mine to not only continue my education, but also to go back to St. Jude and be a part of their work force. I want to be on the other side, where, hopefully, I can be a source of encouragement for other patients. I want to tell them that they can make it. They just have to do what their doctors tell them, believe, keep pushing and be positive.

How did your St. Jude experience inspire your future career path?

Being a patient at St. Jude was the main determining factor in my career choice. I decided at a young age that I wanted to be a part of the health care community. I wanted to give back, to support others, like I was once. Most importantly, I wanted to be a source of encouragement, of hope. Not only was my decision to work in the health care field based on my time at St. Jude, but it also has been a large influence on the person I have become.

What do you hope to do once you’ve graduated to continue bringing awareness to St. Jude?

I hope that I can continue to be a part of the Chili's campaign. I would love to have some sort of recurring role in what they are doing. Also, now that I have a little more free time, I am hoping to be more involved in other fundraisers and activities.

Dr. Tom Merchant's Story

We sat down recently to talk with Dr. Thomas Merchant, a member of the faculty at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and chief of the hospital’s Division of Radiation Oncology. Dr. Merchant received his engineering degree from the University of Michigan, his DO from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and his PhD from the University of Utrecht in The Netherlands. Dr. Merchant is an expert in conformal radiation therapy, which uses imaging technology to pinpoint precisely where radiation needs to be delivered, eradicating the tumor with the least amount of damage to healthy tissue.

Why did you come to work at St. Jude?

I was on staff at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York in the Department of Radiation Oncology and responsible for the pediatric patients. I came to St. Jude in 1996 to implement conformal radiation, first for brain tumors and then for musculoskeletal tumors.

Conformal radiation seems like such a significant breakthrough in treating brain tumors.

In the mid-90s, the treatment of pediatric brain tumors was at a major crossroads because investigators had tried for years to exclude or delay radiation therapy in treatment protocols for the youngest children because of the fear of side effects. Basically, radiation was excluded for kids under 3.  We thought we could reinstate radiation as a component of front-line therapy. And we said we are going to treat those kids under 3, but with a reduced volume of radiation. We believed this could be done because computer programming finally allowed imaging technology such as CT and MRI to plan the radiation treatment. It was a great point in time to be in radiation oncology. We said let’s try this and the pediatric oncologists, especially at St. Jude, were very accepting of this approach. From that work we developed the experience and preliminary data that has shown not only the effectiveness of the treatment but that the side effects are minimal or much reduced. Institutions worldwide have adopted what we’re doing at St. Jude.

Where is tumor and radiation oncology research heading?

We will continue to reduce the volume of treatment and to make the target smaller, based on our experience and better imaging technology.

Based on our research we know how much radiation we can safely give to the normal tissues near the tumor. Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT ), a more advanced form of conformal radiation therapy, requires this type of information to optimally develop a treatment plan.  The goal of my research is to determine the potential for side effects based on how radiation therapy is administered and minimize side effects such as hearing loss, cognitive effects, neurological effects without compromising the goal of cure.

We have developed new protocols for patients that are used both here and nationwide. The experience we have obtained at St. Jude is second to none. Radiation therapy is a lot like surgery. It’s a one-time opportunity to treat the tumor so it must be done very carefully. The success of the treatment is directly related to the experience of the treatment team, and our results show that. We have the highest rate of tumor control with the least amount of side effects among the tumors we specialize in treating here at St. Jude.

How has the opening of the Chili’s Care Center enhanced the work at St. Jude?

The Chili’s Care Center is comfortable and inviting, despite its large size; it has created a better environment for our research teams and, more importantly, for the patients.

We are now able to perform a treatment procedure known as High Dose Rate Brachytherapy. It is used primarily for patients with musculoskeletal tumors. We place small plastic catheters in the bed of the tumor at the time of surgery. About one week later, the child returns as an outpatient to this specially designed, shielded room where the catheters are connected to the high-dose rate radiation source. The treatment takes only minutes each day and is significantly more comfortable compared to how it was administered in the past. It is also safer for the staff as well as more precise.

The Chili’s Care Center has doubled the size of our clinic in radiation oncology. We have a suite for treatment planning that includes a high speed CT scanner and MRI. You are not going to find another children’s hospital that has the same facilities for radiation treatment planning.

We have more space here, especially for families with small children. It is not unusual for the extended family to accompany the patient for the initial evaluation and even for follow-up. When things are difficult for families, they often need more space and privacy. The Chili’s Care Center provides for this and the cheerful environment helps to balance things on those difficult days.

What makes St. Jude special?

The patients. It is a pleasure to see kids come back years after treatment and to know that they are doing well and that treatment is a distant memory. It is even more remarkable to know that many of these children would not have benefited from radiation therapy if not for the program that we established in the mid-90s.

It would be difficult to find other places that have the same balance of resources. When we give lectures at national and international meetings, the level of detail and analysis from our research is always outstanding. Most important, our experience is obvious to others and this is why St. Jude investigators are included in the development of national and international protocols

The other great thing about working here is the dedicated staff. They have experience and a standard that is a benchmark for other institutions and the patients benefit greatly from their experience and confidence.

Are you familiar with Chili’s Create-A-Pepper campaign and what it means to St. Jude?

Absolutely, my family participates. Each year my friends e-mail and call me to say that they ate at Chili’s on Profits Day in my honor. It’s a nice tribute.

Amber's Story

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I hope someday to be an Ambassador to France since I am currently an International Relations major and am studying French. I am greatly interested in politics and our foreign policies. I plan to study abroad in spring 2009 at the Political Science School in Lille, France.

What inspired you to be so active in raising money for St. Jude?

I have never personally been involved in fundraising for any causes as big and as important as this, and it was a privilege to have an opportunity to give back. The managers at the Chili's that I work at were very energetic and took this task to heart. They motivated us to get involved and challenged us to take it to the next level. I was truly inspired by their enthusiasm for the project. Also, I was inspired by the task of contributing to such a great cause. My brother, who has Neurofibromatosis and all the other children with the same disease benefit from people who put effort into helping the cause, so it was wonderful to do as much as I could for another great organization.

What was the key to your success?  How DID you raise so much money?

The key to my success in fund raising was realizing that there are a lot of people and companies out there that are willing to give but don't really want to go out of their way to do so. I just made the effort to go to them as opposed to waiting for them to come into Chili's. I visited companies such as Wal-Mart and Toyota and asked for a contribution and they were more than happy to give and appreciated the extra effort.

What other things did your restaurant do to help raise funds?

My restaurant continued to motivate my fellow team members and I and set goals for us during every shift. The competition between us ChiliHeads is extremely fun, gives us energy and makes each and every shift exciting.

How long have you been with Chili's?

I started working for Chili's in March of 2007. I was originally hired by Chili's in Springfield, VA while attending school in Washington, D.C. Upon completing my second year of college back east, I transferred back to California and applied to the Chili's in Milpitas where I have been working for the past 10 months.

Any other things we should know about you?

I believe that giving back to a great organization such as St. Jude not only helps the people who are benefiting their services, but also the person who is doing the giving. It helps them realize that one person can change another's life and can make a difference.

Christian's Story

Beth knew something out of the ordinary was up when her son Christian, usually a sweet-tempered boy, started to have mood swings. Around this same time, Christian also experienced several bouts of vomiting and fatigue. At first, doctors thought perhaps the little boy suffered from gastric reflex. But when his moods continued to fluctuate, Beth called the doctor in tears. Why wasn't her son getting better? The doctor ordered an MRI, which revealed the source of Christian's nausea and mood swings: a type of brain tumor called medulloblastoma.

After Christian underwent emergency surgery at his local hospital, his doctors recommended the family explore their options for his continued treatment. When one of the doctors mentioned that if it were his child, he'd go to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital^®, it soon became clear to Beth that St. Jude was the best choice.

At St. Jude, Christian underwent a second surgery because scar tissue had developed in his brain. He also received radiation, chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant using his own cells. Christian is home with his family now, where he continues with occupational and physical therapy. Christian is now two years off treatment and returns to St. Jude every six months for checkups.

Christian is back to being his old sweet self, and the family is grateful to St. Jude. "There are so many caring and compassionate people," Beth said. "Absolutely, it's a wonderful place, the best in the world."

When he grows up, Christian wants to be a movie star. To that end, he recently had a small part in the Owen Wilson film "Drillbit Taylor." Like most boys his age, Christian likes to go to amusement parks, watch movies and play with his friends. He's recently expressed an interest in writing and has written short stories for his family.

Elizabeth's Story

A month before Elizabeth was born, her parents, Mary and Terry, learned heartbreaking news from their obstetrician: An ultrasound had revealed that their baby was seriously underdeveloped. Her chances of living past 10 months were slim to none. "It was devastating," Mary recalls. "Our other four children were perfectly normal. All we could ask was 'why?'"

Two doctors and a pediatrician assisted with Elizabeth's birth in June 1998. Her legs, ribs, collar bones and right arm were broken. Elizabeth's condition was diagnosed as type III osteogenesis imperfecta, known as brittle bone disease. There is no cure. Right away, she was placed on a drug regimen to manage pain and prevent seizures. Mary and Terry began to search for effective treatment options. This search led to them to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®, where doctors were treating the symptoms of brittle bone disease with bone marrow transplants. It was the first glimpse of hope Mary and Terry found for their youngest daughter.

At just a year old, Elizabeth received a bone marrow transplant and started follow-up therapy. In 2004, she underwent a stem cell infusion. Since then, Elizabeth has made steady progress. "The treatment and attention each St. Jude patient receives is phenomenal," her mother says. Elizabeth is still undergoing treatment, receiving stem cell infusions every four months and follow ups from her bone marrow transplant.

Elizabeth is now in fourth grade and eagerly anticipating her upcoming 10th birthday. Over the past two years, Elizabeth has gradually moved away from using her wheelchair and walker. She has not used her walker since Christmas 2007. Additionally, she's also grown in height, which is unusual for someone with type III osteogenesis imperfecta.

An avid nature lover, Elizabeth likes to collect rocks, leaves and flowers during family walks. She likes princesses, the color pink, rainbows and stuffed animals. Elizabeth sings with a choir and is looking forward to performing with the group this summer.

Grace Rosa's Story

In July 2005, little Grace, who was then only 2, suffered from a constant fever and stopped walking because of pain in her legs and hips. Grisselle, her mother, took her to an orthopedist, who first believed that the child had an infection in her hip. When Grace's hemoglobin levels continued to decrease, however, he immediately referred her to a local hospital.

The results of an MRI revealed that Grace had a seven-inch tumor in her chest; she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a common solid tumor of childhood. Grisselle never thought she would hear that her daughter was suffering from cancer. "It was the most painful moment in my life," recalled Grisselle. "The doctors explained the illness to me, and I knew that I had to look for help outside of Puerto Rico."

After reading about the treatments developed at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital^®, Grisselle asked her pediatrician to refer her daughter there. "I was very scared, but from the moment I arrived at St. Jude, I knew that I was in the right place," said Grisselle.
The family's wish came true when the St. Jude doctors successfully removed the tumor that threatened Grace's life. 

Grace is now home with her family in Puerto Rico. She comes back to St. Jude every four months for checkups. Grace likes school and is a good student. She has lots of friends and she loves to read. This summer, she is looking forward to spending time at the beach. And when she grows up, Grace wants to be a doctor or a nurse.

Jazmine's Story

In May 2004, Jazmine was a bright-eyed 5-year-old when her family received devastating news. Tests revealed that Jazmine suffered from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), but more heartbreaking news quickly followed. While ALL is a common form of childhood cancer with very promising survival rates, Jazmine's form of ALL, T-cell lineage, was not only very rare for a child her age, it is also resistant to treatment.

In October 2004, Jazmine suffered a relapse during chemotherapy. Doctors informed the Davis family that their daughter needed a bone marrow transplant, but no matches were found on the National Directory. This is when the family turned to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital^®, where doctors informed them that Jazmine's father's cells were her best chance.

Jazmine had her bone marrow transplant at St. Jude on Dec. 14, 2004 and celebrated her sixth birthday on the transplant floor of the hospital one week later. She was released as an inpatient from St. Jude on New Year's Day 2005, a day that symbolized great hope for the family, but also anxiety. Only time would tell if the donor cells would "take over" completely and Jazmine would begin producing normal T-cells. Happily, the transplant was a success. Back home in Peoria, Ill., Jazmine is cancer free. She returns to St. Jude annually for checkups.

Joshua's Story

Joshua had always been an active little boy, so when he became pale and lethargic, his mother took him to their local doctor in Guadalajara, Mexico. At first, doctors thought he had a throat infection, but after running tests they discovered he suffered from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common form of childhood cancer.

Joshua's best chance for recovery was a bone marrow transplant in the United States. After researching treatment protocols for ALL, his doctors decided to refer the family to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital^®.

At St. Jude, Joshua started a three-year chemotherapy protocol. Joshua and his family have now moved to Tennessee and he currently comes to   St. Jude every six months for checkups. Joshua's favorite subjects in school are reading and writing. He likes to play soccer and roller skate. And, when he grows up, he wants to be a rock star.

Sebastien's Story

Sebastien is an amazing little boy. He has the ability to memorize things fast and he already speaks three languages fluently: English, Creole and French. At home, his parents, Nathalie and Wilbert, who are originally from Haiti, speak only French to Sebastien so he'll remain fluent. An ear for language, however, is not the only thing Nathalie and Wilbert passed on to their son. Since they both carry the sickle cell trait, Sebastien was tested and diagnosed with the disease at birth.

From an early age, Sebastien showed signs of the disease, which can be a painful and often deadly affliction. At just a year and a half, he had a pain crisis in his stomach. Then, when he was 3, Sebastien suffered a stroke. He received blood transfusions in Miami, as well as a bone marrow harvest. But he needed a bone marrow transplant.

Sebastien's doctor referred the family to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital^®, knowing it was the best place for Sebastian to receive treatment. The St. Jude Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center currently has 13 open research protocols relating to sickle cell disease, including studies involving bone marrow transplantation, hydroxyurea and nutritional issues in children with sickle cell disease.

Sebastien comes to St. Jude for checkups every two months. He is very outgoing and loves to dance, listen to music and play soccer. He's currently in first grade and has a teacher visit him at home. When he grows up, Sebastien would like to be an actor, a professional soccer player or a TV chef like Emeril.