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  • KMOV: Teen at the Center of a Viral Picture Shares How Social Media Frenzy Brightened His Lengthy Hospital Stay

    • KMOV: Teen at the Center of a Viral Picture Shares How Social Media Frenzy Brightened His Lengthy Hospital Stay

    One month ago, Rebecca Larson etched a message in the snow for her son who was staying at St. Louis Children's Hospital. The social media attention it garnered led to a heart-warming response.

    1 minute
    Jaden's name written in the snow

    Jaden Larson, 19, was beginning a 33-day stay at St. Louis Children’s Hospital for a life-saving bone marrow transplant when his mother decided to display her love in a big way. Rebecca Larson etched her son's name, "Jaden," in giant letters in the snow near the hospital, which was photographed and immediately went viral on social media.

    Jaden holding a medal around his neck and smiling
    Jaden Larson

    The hospital stay was especially difficult for the social teen, as it required isolation and a transplant to treat Chronic Active Epstein–Barr virus disease. KMOV talked with Jaden's physician, Dr. Irem Eldem, a Washington University Hematologist at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, about Jaden's rare diagnosis and the life-saving treatment he's had.

    Jaden and his mom also share how the social media attention connected Jaden to friends and family through phone calls and texts during his lengthy hospital stay.