St. Jude Children's Hospital from the Eyewitness News Newsroom

Every day counts when the next could be your last. For Malise Culpepper, she's had many more days with her little boy than she ever dreamed of. When he was only two and half, Evans was diagnosed with cancer. Malise took Evans to St. Jude where he began treatment for Leukemia; a normally devastating diagnosis eased by the reassuring doctors at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Malise says doctors there told her they wouldn't treat her son, they'd cure him. Evans began chemotherapy immediately. Malise says the hardest part was having to leave the room while Evans received treatment, especially when he'd beg her not to let them hurt him.

Forty-six years ago, the cure rate for children like Evans was only 6%, but thanks to partners in hope and many years of research, the cure rate is now 94%.

Evans' parents were also worried about how they were going to pay for his treatment; his dad had just started a new job so they didn't have insurance. The families worries were soon eased when the people at St. Jude told them, they wouldn't have to worry about money.

St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance, allowing families like Evans's to focus on what's really important. It has been a hard battle, but Malise says good Lord willing, Evans will be cancer free in about 60 weeks.