Boy with Boise ties now cancer free after treatment at St. Jude

BOISE (KTVB) -- An eight-year-old boy with ties to Boise is cancer free after two-and-a-half years of treatment at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

We first introduced you to Owen Church when he was halfway through his fight with cancer. That fight started back in 2009 when Owen was diagnosed with leukemia.

He started chemotherapy at St. Jude quickly after.

"Obviously when you are a parent of a newly-diagnosed child with cancer you're just terrified and my mind went to the worst. Thinking automatically that we were going to lose Owen," said Kelly McMonigle Church, Owen's mother.

She wasn't familiar with St. Jude before Owen's diagnosis. Kelly McMonigle Church grew up in Boise. Her mother still lives in the Treasure Valley.

When Owen was sick, the family relied on the support provided from St. Jude.

"One of the most important things that makes St. Jude different is that no patient family is ever charged for any treatment," said Kelly McMonigle Church. "As a parent of a very sick child I can't tell you what a relief that is. It is just such a piece of mind to know that we can concentrate on our sick child. We can concentrate on his siblings who also still need our attention."

Owen recently celebrated two years being cancer free. He's back to being a kid, running and playing sports including soccer and baseball.

He'll continue to be a patient at St. Jude until he's 18-years-old.

Doctors are hopeful he'll stay in remission and can live a long and healthy life.