January 20, 2026

When 11-year-old Jaylanie talks about his future, he seems more serious than most kids his age. Maybe it's his nature, but perhaps the life-saving care from WashU Medicine brought new perspective to "his future." Jaylanie's life was interrupted by something no child should have to face: a rare and painful tumor in his collarbone. 

Jaylanie is from the tropical nation St. Lucia, in the Eastern Caribbean, where he can be found playing soccer, excelling in math, and being a great big brother to his sisters. He and his family traveled to St. Vincent to seek the care of pediatric orthopedic specialist Eric Gordon, MD, through the World Pediatric Project. Dr. Gordon has been on 30 mission trips with the World Pediatric Project, connecting children like Jaylanie to specialized care not available in their home countries. Dr. Gordon’s biopsy of Jaylanie’s tumor confirmed a rare diagnosis and set in action a global network of physicians and partners to get Jaylanie to St. Louis for the care he needed.  

A Rare Diagnosis

By the time he arrived in St. Louis, Jaylanie had likely been living with this tumor for nearly three years. The rare cancer – an angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma – was not only destructive to his collarbone, but also highly inflammatory, leaving Jaylanie in pain and likely affecting his growth and overall health. This treatment first relies on an accurate diagnosis and expert understanding of the type if tumor. John Chrisinger, MD, pathologist, and Amy Armstrong, MD, pediatric oncologist, were the dynamic pair to help the surgical team move forward. WashU Medicine musculoskeletal oncologist and lead surgeon on Jaylanie’s case, David Clever, MD, PhD, explains, "Jaylanie had been dealing with this for a long time. The level of inflammation in his body when he arrived was through the roof."

The tumor on Jaylanie's collarbone was malignant, but one with a good prognosis. While aggressive and destructive to the bone, it could be cured through complete surgical removal, without the need for chemotherapy, when performed safely and precisely. This surgery required the collaboration of four specialty teams working together as one – a distinct superpower of WashU Medicine.  

A Complex Surgery  

WashU Medicine’s orthopedic, vascular, plastic, and oncology surgery teams worked together over a ten-hour surgery to remove the tumor entirely and reconstruct Jaylanie's collarbone using a small bone graft from his shin. Dr. Clever led the orthopedic oncology portion of the operation along with vascular surgeon Westley Ohman, MD. They carefully removed the tumor, which was closely intertwined with major blood vessels in Jaylanie's neck and chest. Once the tumor was removed with clear margins, orthopedic surgeon David Brogan, MD, MSc, and plastic surgeon Mitchell Pet, MD, reconstructed Jaylanie's collarbone using bone from his leg and muscle and skin from his back to protect the area. 

"Removing tumors, dissecting and reconstructing blood vessels, and reconstructing bone and tissue defects are things that members of this surgical team do every day, but putting all those pieces together in one case is what made this so unique," explains Dr. Clever.   

A Successful Recovery  

Jaylanie spent several weeks post-surgery at the Ronald McDonald House in St. Louis where he was closely monitored by his care team. While here, he also got to experience some St. Louis highlights like visiting the Zoo and the Magic House and seeing snow for the first time. Even though Jaylanie spent his 11th birthday far from home, his WashU Medicine team and their community partners made it one to remember. The St. Louis Blues welcomed Jaylanie and his care team to a home game where he got to fist-bump the hockey players before their game. St. Louis CITY SC also planned a special tour of Energizer Park and a VIP meet and greet with Simon Becher who delivered Jaylanie an incredible birthday gift – his very own CITY SC kit.  

Within a month of surgery, Jaylanie's inflammatory markers had nearly returned to normal – an early sign that his body was finally healing. More importantly, he was moving comfortably and starting to use both arms again. "Watching him turn cranks at The Magic House, using both arms, pain-free, just weeks after surgery – that's a moment that will stay with me," Dr. Clever shared. "He's an exceptional kid, and we're very optimistic about his future." For Dr. Clever, Jaylanie's case represents the power of global collaboration, generosity, and teamwork – coming together to give one remarkable child the chance to heal, return home, and simply be a kid again.  

A Bright Future Ahead 

For Jaylanie, success means more than medical milestones – it means running, playing, and being able to use his arm without pain. It means going back home to St. Lucia and rejoining his friends in "football" (soccer) games. Now, when he imagines his future, there is nothing standing in his way. Jaylanie imagines himself teaching PE and passing on his love for football to the next generation.  

Our team will monitor Jaylanie's health in St. Lucia over the next 10 years to make sure he remains a happy and healthy kiddo, looking toward a bright future.  

Learn why patients choose WashU Medicine Orthopedics, request an appointment online or call (314) 514-3500.