S2E5 | An unassailable hope

The first time Corbin was treated for cancer at St. Jude, he was a precocious 3-year-old who loved to ride tricycles around the halls. The last time Corbin was treated for cancer at St. Jude, he was a magnetic 18-year-old who loved to play guitar and had big plans to fight for justice in the courtroom, even as he neared the end of his life.

Corbin had a genetic predisposition to develop cancer. In all, he was diagnosed with four different types of cancer over the years, and treatment options became increasingly complex. Corbin’s mom Heather says each diagnosis was a shock. But each time they returned to St. Jude, they felt hopeful, knowing his doctors would do all they could.

“I miss him terribly, and it creeps up on me and hits me sometimes” Heather says. But she remembers the way he’d make her laugh, the way he sat with young patients at St. Jude while they played video games, the way he refused to fall into bitterness, the way he never gave up on living. “I need to do that too,” Heather says. “I need to move forward because that's what he would want me to do.”

Please note this episode contains a few instances of mild swear words. St. Jude Storied Lives explores the experiences of patients and their families, letting you get to know the person and not just the diagnosis. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital understands that every family’s journey through treatment is unique. Listeners who have questions about their situation, diagnosis or treatment options should talk to their physician. These personal stories are not intended to provide medical advice.

Credits
Host: Joel Alsup
Producer: Geoffrey Redick
Editor: Grace Korzekwa Evans
Music production: Kazimir Boyle
Recorded by: Jason Latshaw, Nathan Black, Bobby Mitchell, Orlando Palaez and Dan Yohey