St. Jude siblings still cancer free, still fighting

Haley, Austin and Cathe Carter are vocal advocates for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Haley and Austin were both St. Jude cancer patients, now in remission. (Photo by Beth Whisman/WJBC)

BLOOMINGTON — A brother and sister from the Twin Cities who fought the same bone cancer are now helping St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis raise money and awareness about childhood cancers.

Austin Carter, 15, is a freshman at Normal Community High School. His mother, Cathe, is a math teacher at the school and Haley, 13, will join her brother and mother at NCHS next year.

Haley was 9 years old when she was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer, osteocarcoma. It was 2004 and she and Cathe had just discovered a bump on her leg after a soccer game.  The  bump turned out to be cancer, so her pediatrician sent Haley to St. Jude.

Ten months later, Austin would find a similar bump on his leg.  The siblings said going through cancer together created a special bond.  Meanwhile, Cathe said St. Jude is researching their rare situation and diagnoses.

“They started doing genetic testing, trying to figure out why both of my children have osteocarcoma,” Cathe said. “We are the only family that St. Jude has had who has sibling diagnosed with bone cancer.”

The family shared their story during last year’s St. Jude Radiothon and helped raise more than $77,000 for St. Jude. Today, the siblings are still fighting to raise money and awareness about the hospital’s work.

“It takes $1.7 million to run the hospital for a day,” Haley told WJBC. “So, I hope people will give.”

The Carters are also still in remission from their cancer.

“We’re doing good, I’m chemo free and no cancer,” Austin said during WJBC’s St. Jude Radiothon on Thursday.

“I’m 3 and a half years in remission,” Haley added, “and Austin is 2 and a half years (cancer free).”

The family visits the St. Jude affiliate at the Children’s Hospital of Illinois for checkups.

Click Below to listen to the family’s interview with WJBC’s Jim Fitzpatrick:

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To support St. Jude’s research and ongoing work with families and patients affected by childhood cancers, you can donate online or call 1-800-3744-995 during the WJBC St. Jude Radioton on Thursday & Friday, Feb. 16-17.

Beth Whisman can be reached at whisman@wjbc.com.