Mitch Jost's parents told him he had been diagnosed with cancer when he was only 4 years old.

More specifically, it was called Wilms tumor, which is a childhood cancer of the kidney, said Mitch, freshman in business.

"It was kind of hard for him to understand what was going on," said Debbie Jost, Mitch's mother. "You tell kids there's something wrong and they have to go to surgery and get treatments and explain to them what's going to happen in words they can understand. I felt like he really didn't comprehend then."

Though he might not have understood the magnitude of his sickness, Mitch said it showed in his parents' faces.

"It probably hit them pretty hard since I was their only child," Mitch said. "If I didn't pull through, it probably would have been pretty devastating."

Mitch said his parents both gave up a lot to be with him through the tough times because his dad often had to take off work to take Mitch to get treatments.

"I never thought of it as sacrifice," said Randy Jost, Mitch's dad. "You do what you need to do and you don't really think of it as being a sacrifice. All you can do is respond with faith and put one foot in front of the other. You just have faith and keep going."

Debbie said she felt bad for Mitch when he wanted to go out and play, but she couldn't let him because chemotherapy made him ill.

Mitch said his parents played the most significant role in his recovery. They both did everything they could to help Mitch get through the process.

"Both of them were with me all the time," Mitch said. "My mom was always the one that drove me to the hospital, and any time my dad could get off work to be there, he was always willing."

After all the hard times, Mitch said he thinks of himself as just another student. He enjoys playing the saxophone and acoustic guitar and has been with his girlfriend for more than a year.

"The only thing I notice day to day is a big scar across my stomach," Mitch said.

He said he owes a great deal of gratitude to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Professionals there told his parents what was wrong with him and told them the facts. He said he got the feeling that they'd "do everything they can."

"The staff there is unlike any other place I've ever been to," Mitch said. "To most people, working in a hospital is just a job, but to them, people working at St. Jude - even the people in the gift shop - they all care. They're very compassionate."

Debbie said the hospital not only helped them out with moral support but also financially.

"At St. Jude they accept patients whether they have insurance or not. We had insurance and they just took whatever the insurance would give," Debbie said. "All the St. Jude doctors were always so caring. It's not like a hospital. There's so much hope in there and positive thinking."

Up 'til Dawn is the campus organization that helps raise funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Mitch said he recently joined the K-State chapter of Up 'til Dawn's executive board as morale captain. In this role, he organizes the different teams within the group.

"We've been one of the top 10 schools nationally for the six years that we've had Up 'til Dawn," said Andy Maher, executive director of K-State's Up 'til Dawn and senior in accounting. "We've raised over $570,000 in those six years."

Maher said the executive board welcomes Mitch with enthusiasm and that his experience will be a huge asset to the organization.

Katie Hamm, K-State's Up 'til Dawn vice executive director, said Mitch works hard with his dedication to Up 'til Dawn. "Mitch has a big heart, and he's very passionate about St. Jude particularly since he was a patient," said Hamm, junior in dietetics.

Maher said Mitch also will serve as a reminder to those who donate their time to Up 'til Dawn fundraisers.

"Mitch has been an inspiration to everyone on the executive board for Up 'til Dawn," Maher said. "He's been a great addition to the executive board in the fact that he's had a personal experience of his own with St. Jude and that really helps us know what we are working for."