Sheena's Story
Sheena grew up in Duffield, a small town in Southwest Virginia, surrounded by a large and close-knit family — three siblings and loving parents and step-parents. From an early age, she developed a deep passion for sports that stayed with her throughout her life. At Rye Cove High School, Sheena competed on the basketball, volleyball, and softball teams while also staying active in a wide range of organizations, including Spanish Club, Beta Club, FCCLA, SADD, and SCM. She served on the student council, earned recognition as an AIM Scholar, and was a dedicated member of the Thomas Village Baptist Church Youth Group.
Sheena V was a beautiful person inside and out. She had the love of Jesus in her heart, and that's what truly made her the person she was.
Summer of 2000
During what appeared to be a typical summer break between Sheena's sophomore and junior years of high school, she awoke with a cough and felt too sick to attend basketball practice. No one could have predicted that the next 48 hours would reveal the extreme opposite.
During her doctor's visit, Sheena was instructed to go to the emergency room immediately, and was soon rushed to St. Jude's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee — where she would spend the next six and a half months of her life. Prior to her diagnosis, the only time Sheena had ever set foot in a hospital was to visit someone else. The weight of that reality was immense, and the shock and grief she carried in those early days were beyond words.
From the moment of her diagnosis, Sheena touched the hearts of everyone around her — and even those who only heard her story from afar. She had always moved through life with genuine love and respect for others, and that never wavered. Her warm smile was impossible to resist, and her spirit drew people in effortlessly. From the world's leading doctors to the hospital's maintenance staff, everyone found themselves checking in on her, rooting for her, and changed by knowing her.
Sheena's cancer was extraordinarily rare. Her family was told she was among only 100 cases ever reported worldwide — and just the 20th case St. Jude's had ever treated. Doctors pursued every available option: chemotherapy, radiation, and experimental medicines that offered both hope and hardship. Through it all, her family held on to the belief that she would one day recover.
St. Jude's Hospital
There were obvious highs and lows during the six months in Memphis: losing her hair, not being able to be at holiday gatherings, missing classmates, and the typical things a 16-year-old girl experiences. St. Jude's understands this and works very hard at making patients feel welcome and loved. While Sheena may have been disappointed about celebrating her 16th birthday in the hospital, having Tina Turner sing happy birthday to you can make quite the story. Amy Grant, Joe Thiesman, Laura Dern and Pat Summitt are just a few of the celebrities that were at St. Jude to help make the patients feel welcome and excited.
Faith was the foundation Sheena stood on. Throughout her illness, she leaned on her pastor for spiritual guidance and drew strength from a belief that never faltered — and that grace was visible to everyone around her. The love and support that poured in was overwhelming. Hundreds of letters arrived at her door, along with gifts, cards, emails, and heartfelt messages from churches, schools, newspapers, and complete strangers across the country. Sheena lit up every time the mail was delivered.
The outpouring of love and support from so many people was a constant source of strength for Sheena — it kept her positive and gave her the will to keep fighting. She wanted so deeply to live, and she never stopped making plans for the future. Through it all, she never saw herself as a victim, never asked why, and never complained. She faced her illness with a quiet courage that left a lasting mark on everyone who witnessed it, and she fought with everything she had until the very end.
Though Sheena's final days were spent at St. Jude's, her time there was anything but without meaning. She brought light into that place — and into the lives of everyone who crossed her path. Her memory lives on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her, and she will forever be remembered for her beautiful smile and her rare gift of making every person feel truly seen and valued. Even in the midst of her own suffering, she turned her focus outward and encouraged others to:
Faith
Live • Hope • Dream.
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