When kids need treatment at St. Jude, they often have to be at the Memphis hospital for months at a time. As you can imagine, it's a huge burden for the adults—emotionally and financially, and sometimes one problem makes the other one worse.

At least one parent has to leave behind their job and often their other kids. But St. Jude tries to make them feel at home, the best it can, while doing what's best for treatment.

Most people don't even remember how they get at St. Jude because it happens so fast.

“We found out he had cancer on June 16th of 08,” recalls Katie Bruce of her son, Jack. “On June 22ne, we arrived and began chemo on July 2nd.”

Katie Bruce and her son Jack had to leave their home behind quickly, so the hospital set them up at the Memphis Grizzlies house. It’s a short term facility, and it’s usually the place where parents find out their child is sick.

"We're set up to handle folks who've gotten that bad diagnosis, that bad news,” says Brent Adams, Director of Domiciliary Services. “We're set up in trying to deal with families who are traumatized."

The rooms at the Grizzlies House may look like a normal hotel room, but families quickly discover, it's not.

"Cleanliness is truly next to Godliness here at St. Jude because the kids are immuno- suppressed,” says Adams.

From the floor tiles to the air kids breathe—“It's 93% particle free,” says Adams.

Everything in the rooms is a certain way for a reason. It's a nice assurance for families, but so is the cost of rent.

"We don't know how to handle cash in this building,” says Adams. “There is no rent. There is no deposit."

"I have made lifelong friends there,” says Bruce.

No matter the amenities, none is as great as the people.

"We have wonderful people back home,” says Bruce. “But some of them just don't understand what we're going through. Mothers here really know what you're going through, and they kind of know how to console you."

St. Jude provides housing at three different places depending on how long families have to stay, and all of them are free for families.