The worst 48 hours a Mum could go through...
Tanya, Jackson’s mum shared her story with us, as you read through this we hope you can also understand why we need to do everything possible to make Jackson’s wish come true!
“Jackson was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma on the 17th of June 2013 at just 3 years old. It all started with a cough which is very common that time of the year. After having antibiotics for what the doctor thought was a chest infection, the doctor
then ordered an X-ray. As we sat in the waiting room, hundreds of things were going through my mind, we were moving into our new house that week and I still had so many things to do. I had no idea what was about to hit me. After the X-ray I got called into
a room and was told Jackson had fluid on his chest and to go straight to hospital where they would place a drain in his chest.
Luckily that day I had my mother inlaw with me as I was also 8 weeks pregnant and had really bad morning sickness.
At the emergency department we were swarmed with doctors from all different fields trying to work out why Jackson had this fluid on his chest. But they were all amazed that he was not only breathing on his own but sitting up talking like nothing was
wrong. One nurse told me she had only seen this sort of internal damage in a car accident victim who did not survive. Just the sort of thing I really didn’t want to hear…”
Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions, and every wish we grant is as unique as the imaginations of the children who make them.
For Jackson, his love of batman has given him super powers to get through this terrible time. His wish for a family holiday to the Gold Coast will bring Jackson and his family so much joy.
We need your help to make this amazing wish come true. Please donate to send Jackson on the trip of a lifetime.
Tanya continues with her story, telling us
“Jackson had a CT scan and we were moved onto a ward while we waited for the results. Later that day a doctor walked in and asked to talk to Adam and myself. We followed him out of the room and as we walked past the nurses station the doctor grabbed
a box of tissues, I instantly felt sick. We were lead into a boardroom where 4 or 5 medical staff were sitting and we were given the life changing news that our son had cancer.
At first we sat there in shock, unable to really hear what was being said. I just couldn’t understand how this world could be without Jackson in it, without his crazy sense of humour, how was I going to give birth to the baby growing inside of me when
I could lose my first born.
Jackson had a large tumour in his chest that was wrapped around his heart, pushing his heart against his chest wall, he had a collapsed lung and smaller tumours on his kidneys.
Due to the way the tumor was wrapped around everything they could not operate on the tumor. This was a very fast growing tumour and when I say it ‘all started with a cough’ it was only 2 weeks in total that he was sick.
The doctors needed to keep draining the fluid ASAP on his chest to allow his lungs to reinflate. This was done and he was placed into the intensive care unit where they immediately started his first round of chemo."
Jackson has been fighting ever since, and we need your help right now, to grant him a wish and give him the strength to keep up the fight
Jackson’s mum continues,
“Jackson has received chemotherapy ever since then with the first 8 months being so intense his body was taken to the edge, something no parent should have to watch their child endure. He went from a healthy, happy 3 year old to wasting away before our
eyes, losing his hair, endless medications, blood transfusions, vomiting, feeds through his nose tube as his weight dropped to just 12 kgs at 4 years old. But Jackson never lost his cheeky smile and that sense of humour.
Unfortunately the medication that is saving Jackson's life also depletes his immune system meaning we have had to be extremely careful with his health. What would be minor illnesses in other kids would mean lengthy stays in hospital being constantly
monitored and tested. This also means he has had to miss out on a lot of things kids his age shouldn't have to miss out on.
As Jackson has got older he has started to ask more questions about his cancer or as we call it, the monsters in his chest. One I will never forgot is when he asked “if god can do miracles why can’t he fix me?”
Jackson will go in for his last round of IV chemo on Friday with his official end of treatment being the 27th of September. After that he will have tests every month for 5 years to ensure the cancer does not return.
We are thankful every day that Jackson was given a chance to fight his cancer, so many are not so lucky. Our family and friends knew nothing about childhood cancer and the devastating statistics that too many families face.”
You can be a part of bringing back this family some joy by giving them a family adventure which they can cherish for years to come!
Make-A-Wish Australia has made over 8,000 unique wishes come true for seriously ill children across Australia since 1985.
As we receive no government funding, this has all been possible thanks to generous support from individuals like you.
In recognising our 30 years of granting cherished wishes in Australia, we want to bring the healing power of a wish to as many seriously-ill children as possible. With your help, we can ensure that we can continue to give hope, strength and joy to children
just like those featured here. Your support will make a powerful and important difference in a sick child’s life.
As these children battle their life-threatening illness, they build resilience through the hope, strength and joy their incredible wish inspires, which if not for you, cannot be made possible.
To help more seriously ill children be granted their most cherished wish come true, visit:
http://startsomegood.com/Profile/makeawish2015
