Central New York Family Shares 17-Year St. Jude Journey
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital may be located in Memphis, Tennessee, but its impact reaches far beyond its walls — including right here in Central New York. Just ask the Russitano family from Holland Patent.
Vincent Russitano is one of those hometown kids whose life was changed forever by St. Jude research.
Vincent was a typical 7-year-old boy. He loved climbing trees, playing baseball, and running nonstop like most kids his age. But on October 15, 2008, his world — and his family’s — shifted in an instant.
That day, Vincent’s second-grade teacher noticed something didn’t seem right. Kristie Russitano still calls her son’s teacher his “guardian angel.” She suspected a visual processing issue and urged further testing.
Brain Tumor Discovered
A visit to the eye doctor revealed enlarged optic nerves. An MRI soon followed — and with it, devastating news. Vincent had a brain tumor.
He was rushed to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, where surgeons were able to remove part of the tumor. Because it was located on his brain stem, doctors couldn’t safely remove all of it.
“We were advised it would be a couple of weeks before we had biopsy results,” Kristie said. “The samples were sent to other hospitals for evaluation. One of those hospitals was St. Jude.”
A Long Road of Treatment
Doctors at St Jude developed a 14-month chemotherapy plan, delivered through an IV, until Vincent was 9 years old.
The tumor shrank and became dormant. Recovery, however, wasn’t easy.
After surgery, Vincent needed both a walker and a wheelchair. But he persevered.
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“He worked incredibly hard,” Kristie said. “By 13, he learned how to ride a bike. At 14, he decided he wanted to ride a dirt bike — and not only did he ride, he raced for about three years.”
The Tumor Returns
When Vincent was 16, the tumor began to grow again. This time, treatment looked very different.
Instead of traditional IV chemotherapy, Vincent underwent a year of targeted chemotherapy — a newer, more precise approach made possible through years of research at St Jude.
A third round of treatment followed in 2020.
Six years later, Vincent is doing well. He’s working full-time and is the proud dad of an energetic Red Tick/Australian Shepherd named Rooster.
“The drastic difference in the type of chemotherapy my son received from when he was 7 to when he was 16 was amazing,” Kristie said. “That difference exists because of research projects at St. Jude, funded by donations and fundraisers.”
An Update After 17 Years
This year marks 17 years since Vincent’s diagnosis — a reminder that childhood cancer doesn’t end when treatment does.
“Vincent is doing well,” Kristie said. “We had another scan in September. He was hoping to be released for more than a year, but it’s only a year.”
After nearly two decades, those follow-up scans remain a part of life.
“We’ve been at this for 17 years,” Kristie said. “That’s something people don’t always think about — families needing support and continued follow-up for years, sometimes for life. And St. Jude does that.”
Grateful for St. Jude
Kristie remains deeply grateful for the role St. Jude played — not only in saving her son’s life, but in allowing him to stay close to home.
“St. Jude helped come up with a treatment plan that saved my son, without him having to leave his home, his friends, or his school,” she said.
Paying It Forward
Inspired by their journey, Kristie started Finding The Next Step Together, an organization dedicated to helping families facing life-changing diagnoses.
“I was blessed with a strong support system,” she said. “But it meant so much to talk with another mom who had been there and truly understood the thoughts and questions I had.”
The organization connects families with local resources — many of which people don’t even realize exist — and offers financial support as well.
Become a Partner in Hope
You can help families like the Russitanos by becoming a St. Jude Partner in Hope during the Country Cares Radiothon, presented by Drain Master.
Call 800-995-5257 or donate online at St. Jude.
Because for families like Vincent’s, hope isn’t just about surviving — it’s about being supported every step of the way, for years to come.
Meet the Patients of St Jude Your Donation Helps Save
Gallery Credit: Credit - Polly McAdams