BATON ROUGE — A family is celebrating after scans came back clear for their little boy who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma months ago. Jimmie Jr.’s scans are clear, and he’s back home.
What began as a slight limp in a 16-month-old toddler, turned into a fight for survival with the young boy undergoing multiple surgeries, including one just months ago that removed 95% of the tumor. While surgeons got out the majority of the tumor, part of it was wrapped around his main spinal artery, his mother Briana White shared with UWK in March.
Jimmie Jr. will need scans every three months to check that things are going in the right direction. He and his mother were back at St. Jude’s this week for the first of those scans. White shared that she had been an emotional wreck leading up to Wednesday, which is when they were to receive the scan’s results:
Sitting in that exam room waiting for his oncology team to walk through those doors felt like the longest 20 minutes of my life. My heart was pounding so hard. I kept looking at Jimmie, smiling and playing so innocently, while I sat there carrying the weight of every terrifying “what if” imaginable.
And then we heard the words I have begged God for…
“His scans are clear & stable.”
White shared that she is grateful for “every single person” who has been with their family, especially Jimmie Jr. on this journey, be it through prayer, cards, donations, messages, and more.
“You all helped carry us through some of the darkest days of our lives. I will never forget the love that has surrounded my son through this journey.”
Little Jimmie Jr. is back home now, but the three-month scans will be part of his life now.
“Please continue praying for my sweet boy. This journey is not over, and scan anxiety is something I don’t think a cancer parent ever truly escapes. But today reminded me that God has carried us through every storm we thought would destroy us,” White shared on Facebook.
The White family is asking for continued support and for anyone wanting to send Jimmie any “NO MO CHEMO” gifts for his celebration, the family has shared a wishlist.
In addition, there is a GoFundMe to help with essential expenses.
Original story March 28
An 18-month-old fighting neuroblastoma has made it through a major, high-risk surgery but his mother says the battle is far from over.
Briana White says the days leading up to surgery were filled with fear, prayer, and preparation.
“He had an angiogram at Le Bonheur Hospital in Memphis on the 17th in preparation for the surgery,” White said. “We met with the surgeon on the 18th, and surgery took place on the 19th.”
Inside the Operating Room
White says the morning of surgery began before sunrise.
“We got to the hospital at 6 a.m.,” she said. “They wiped him down, went over everything with me and his dad, and gave him medication to relax him.”
What came next is something she says she will never forget.
“They took him back to what looked like a room I’ve only ever seen in movies, nothing but silver and shiny machines,” White said. “I was beside myself. My throat was in my stomach.”
In one of the most painful moments, she was forced to lay her baby down as doctors surrounded him.
“They sedated him for surgery, and the procedure took hours,” she said.
During the operation, doctors had to shut down Jimmie Jr.’s right lung entirely—relying only on his left lung to function—so they could safely access the tumor.
A Delicate and Dangerous Removal
Surgeons were able to remove 95% of the tumor, a major milestone—but not without uncertainty.
“They couldn’t touch the part wrapped around his main spinal artery,” White explained.
Now, the remaining tumor presents three possible outcomes:
- It could disappear and turn into scar tissue
- It could grow benign as he grows
- Or, in the worst case, it could become aggressive again
“The worst case is what has me living in fear every day,” White said. “That it could start growing rapidly again and he’d have to go back through chemo, radiation—everything.”
A Painful Recovery
After surgery, Jimmie Jr. required oxygen support for several hours due to the strain on his lungs.
He also had a chest drain and multiple incisions.
“He had four incisions about an inch and a half long,” White said.
The family remained at St. Jude for three days as doctors closely monitored him. Recovery has not been easy.
“He had trouble eating and was extremely constipated. His stomach was like a bowling ball,” she said.
They have since been cleared to return home to Baton Rouge, for now.
Donate to Jimmie Jr.’s Wishlist
Ongoing Medical Concerns
Even at home, the challenges continue.
Jimmie Jr. still has his port in place and is healing from surgery, but new concerns have emerged.
“He has a large lump under one of the incisions,” White said. “He’ll be seeing his doctor this week.”
And the long road ahead is just beginning. The family will travel back to Memphis every three months for scans to monitor for any recurrence.
“Any relapse, that’s what I’m most scared about,” White said. “Especially with parts of the tumor still there.”
Learning to Walk Again
Because of the tumor’s impact on his spinal cord and nerve signals, Jimmie Jr. is still unable to walk or stand on his own.
“He can only stand on his tiptoes,” White said.
Doctors say the tumor affected communication between his brain and muscles, causing his ankles to lock.
Now, he will be fitted for bilateral AFO braces to help stabilize his legs.
“He’ll be doing physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy hard,” White said. “I’m praying no more surgery comes from this. He’s been through enough.”
A Family at Rock Bottom
While the medical journey continues, the financial toll has become overwhelming.
“We’re two months behind on our mortgage,” White said. “We need help.”
Her husband missed nine days of work during the surgery and recovery, leaving the family struggling to keep up with bills, groceries, and basic needs.
“I worry about everything,” White said. “Bills, food, my kids. I sit up at night just thinking.”
She says the only significant help they’ve received so far came after their story was shared publicly.
“I’m hoping people will see this update and help however they can,” she said. “We are at rock bottom.”
“Cancer Changes Everything”
Now back home, the family is trying to adjust to a new reality—one filled with uncertainty, follow-up care, and constant fear.
“Once cancer is a part of your life, it never goes away,” White said. “The fear, the what-ifs, the paranoia, the guilt, it stays.”
Despite everything, she continues to fight for her son, holding onto faith through it all.
“The fact that we’re struggling like this just because our baby got cancer, it’s so unfair,” she said.
How to Help
The White family is asking for continued support as they navigate this difficult chapter.
They have shared a GoFundMe, a wishlist for Jimmie Jr.’s needs during recovery, and direct ways to help with essential expenses.
As Briana White puts it:
“Right now, we need it—in Jesus’ name.”
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