Our family loves Children's Minnesota 

Our journey with Children's began in 2000 when our older sister Molly was treated at Children’s for RSV. Following, Megan and twin brother John, spent 40 days in neonatal care when they arrived 8 weeks prematurely. These experiences left the Stuart Family with enormous gratitude for Children’s Minnesota. 

But then came cancer. Megan was just shy of five months old when she was diagnosed with a rare pediatric cancer called Neuroblastoma. In the weeks following her diagnosis, there were countless hours at Children's where Megan underwent scans and tests to pinpoint the magnitude of the cancer. This was followed by biopsies, surgeries, additional tests and scans, and ultimately a course for treatment including chemotherapy. The plan included rounds of chemotherapy intended to kill the cancer cells and reduce the tumor. 

Chemotherapy was administered to Megan while she spent days inpatient at the hospital. It was tricky to give the doses to an infant and the hospital allowed for careful monitoring as each medication ran its course. Following each hospitalization, there were daily visits to the clinic for outpatient infusions aimed to offset the side effects caused by receiving chemotherapy. After the outpatient infusions, there were home therapy sessions to maintain mobility and days spent monitoring blood levels as counts waxed and waned in response to the chemotherapy. This would take weeks and then when all stabilized, the next round of chemotherapy would begin again.

This cycle went on for months, each time Megan would start a round of chemotherapy she would be a bit more fragile than the last. Chemotherapy is effective in treating fast-growing cancer cells but it also impacts the health of the patient when doing its work. Monitoring Megan’s nutrition and weight would become a new variable. Soon, supplemental feeding became part of Megan’s daily care plan. This precarious dance of chemotherapy to attack cancer, infusions to combat side effects, nutrition supplements to maintain strength, and surveying blood levels to stay ahead of infection, became all-encompassing. This pattern of treatment repeated for months and for Megan and family being 'on campus’ at Children’s became more familiar than being at home.  

Slowly time moved forward and when the rounds of chemotherapy were over scans showed positive results. The tumor shrank and surgery allowed what remained to be removed. Final pathology indicated almost no cancer survived. It was then that Megan and team would fully exhale. It was also then that an overwhelming gratitude began to seep in for the people and the mission of Children’s Minnesota. 

By the time Megan turned two, she was considered cancer-free and by the time she turned five, she was officially in full remission. At this point, Megan entered the Children’s Minnesota Pediatric Oncology Research Program which she continues to participate in today.

It is evident that Children's Minnesota does not only care for the patient but the entire family and their support system. 

In the years following Megan's cancer remission, our family has made it a priority to give back to Children's and help all we can. 

Today, siblings John, Megan, and Mac are training to run the Twin Cities Half Marathon for More, in October 2025. Please donate as you are able and share our story! 

We could not be more grateful for Children's Minnesota and we are proud to run as Team Superstars!