Thank you for visiting the Team Jack fundraising page!
Our son Jack is 15 years old. He is a sophomore at Juanita High School in Kirkland. He was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma on March 14, 2011. He had been experiencing severe headaches, which I mistakenly thought was a sinus infection. When he started to experience vertigo like symptoms and lose his balance, he begged to go to the doctor.
Before Jack's diagnosis, he was a confident, outgoing boy. He completed his high school wrestling season in February and earned his varsity letter at 125 pounds. He took up the Euphonium during the summer after 8th grade, practiced hard and managed to be chosen for the All Northwest High School Honor Band this school year. He took up the trombone as well and made his high school Jazz Band. He was a child who loved his friends, high school activities and life in general. He was looking forward to being on the High School ASB Executive Board during his Junior year as Junior Rep. He had big dreams and he was "going big or going home".
Jack's last day of school was March 14th. He had surgery on March 22nd and spent the next month at Children's Hospital. He spent 3 weeks in the Rehab Unit, and made a lot of progress. He finished 6 weeks of radiation and he is going to start a 48 week process of chemotherapy on July 7, 2011.
Through out this process we have been offered so much hope. Jack's neurosurgeon, Dr. Ellenbogen, was able to get the tumor out. Jack's prognosis for beating the cancer is excellent. He is now walking short distances independently, swimming during PT, doing well with tutoring, and enjoying being home and seeing friends. He is weak, and we are unsure of how much of the deficiencies he suffered as a result of the surgery will be corrected, but progress is being made. When Jack will graduate from High School is unclear, but graduating and eventually going to college is definitely the goal. We live in a wonderfully supportive community and have felt all of the prayers and love poured out on our behalf.
We would not be where we are today if Jack didn't receive excellent care from Seattle Children's Hospital. The Brain Tumor Team, the Rehab Unit Medical Team and the Radiation Specialists at the University of Washington Hospital have been nothing short of phenomenal; patient, caring, and loving. They put everything they have into their job of curing children and supporting families and they do it with such love and joy. My husband and I will be eternally grateful.
Jack has a ways to go on his journey, and so does our family as his supporting cast. I pray that another child will never have to go through this, but I am confident that the medical staff at Children's and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance are doing everything in their power to limit and end suffering. Your donation will directly make that happen. Thank you so much for your generosity. Thank you too for your prayers and love extended to Jack and to us.