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St. Jude: Braydon’s Story

Posted at 9:23 PM, Apr 23, 2012
and last updated 2012-04-23 21:23:37-04

Braydon Holmes has a way of showing most folks why it’s fun to be a 3-year-old, especially when you have bragging rights to an extensive toy truck collection.

Braydon today is a stark contrast to what he looked like a year ago when a cancerous tumor was discovered in his brain.

"There are no words to describe what you feel at that moment when you are told that it's a tumor,” says Janet Holmes.

Braydon's mom and dad decided St. Jude Children's Research Hospital offered the best protocols to treat Braydon's cancer post-surgery.

Although the tumor was successfully removed, without treatment it would quickly grow back.

It meant the entire family dynamic would change.  The family split up.  Braydon's dad moved to Memphis for six months to stay with his son at St. Jude while Judy stayed at home with her daughter and worked.

Doug felt helpless at times watching his tiny son in the fight of his life.

"It was hard; he got sick, his immune system was down, his blood count down, he's doing chemo, he is throwing up and it’s very hard to watch,” says Doug.

The Holmes family is hopeful that the hard times are behind them and they are cautiously optimistic that their son will be around to enjoy a lifetime of laughter.

There are several local families sharing their stories this week leading up to the St. Jude dream home giveaway. You could win a half-million dollar home and help save lives.

Reserve your ticket now because they are selling fast.

This is the last week that you can tour the dream home.

While there, you can also register to win a $10, 000 shopping spree at Value City Furniture.

The Dream home will be given away live on Sunday at 11 a.m.