This is Jack…or Jack Jack as he’s known to his family and friends. In April of 2023, he was like any other curious boundary-pushing three-year-old. Then he came home with a limp.
Update from Jack's Family - June 27th, 2024
This is Jack…or “Jack Jack” as he’s known to his family and friends…and “Bear” as he’s known to us - his Mum (Jaimee), Dad (Trent) and big brother (Ted).
Right now, our baby Bear is in his fight for a lifetime, and he - we - need your help.
In April of 2023, Jack was like any other curious boundary-pushing three-year-old. He wanted to be a dolphin when he grew up. He was happiest playing with his brother Ted, making cups of tea in his kitchen and watching old-school Scooby Doo and Smurfs. His favourite colour was yellow.
Then he came home with a limp.
Three weeks later, four doctors walked into our room to advise us our baby Bear had stage IV cancer. Neuroblastoma.
Whilst Jack had been playing, swimming, sleeping, laughing and giving “huggles”, his nerve cells had failed to mature properly, resulting in a mandarin-sized tumour growing near his adrenal gland and kidney. From there it spread to his lymph nodes, bone marrow and his bones, from the top of his beautiful head down to his toes.
Treatment
In May 2023 he commenced one of the most gruelling treatment protocols a child can endure: six months in hospital, eight rounds of chemotherapy, an 8-hour surgery, a bone marrow transplant, 12 rounds of radiation, and immunotherapy. He has suffered horrible side effects through neuropathy, loss of fine motor skills, and reduced eyesight and he will be infertile. Yet he still walks into the hospital jauntily singing his favourite tunes: "Don’t give up, don’t give in, just get up and try again" or “Everything's better when we’re together” from the Lego movie.
Initially, Jack responded very well to treatment. It cleared all but a few remaining cancerous cells in his bone marrow.
However, the hard truth is that Neuroblastoma has a 50% relapse rate and the chances of survival plummet to 5% on relapse.
Heartbreakingly, in May 2024, a year after he started treatment, Jack relapsed two rounds into immunotherapy. He has four new bone lesions. As a result, he is now undergoing a combination of at least 5 rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy with the objective of achieving remission once more.
Fundraising
As a family, we commenced fundraising in February 2024 (prior to Jack’s relapse) with the objective of getting him access to one of two drugs (DFMO or a bivalent vaccine) available in America, proven to reduce relapse by 25%. Our target was based on the cost of the vaccine option plus the necessary travel for Jack and one carer which was $500,000.
It was a frighteningly high number, but thanks to the incredible support from our community far and wide, we had nearly hit this original target of half a million dollars.
…But then Jack tragically relapsed and now we desperately need to get Jack access to Car T Cell Therapy, in Rome.
Car T Cell Therapy involves extracting Jack’s stem cells, re-engineering them and re-inserting them back into his precious body. From there, they know to go and fight the cancer. It is the future of cancer treatment.
The good news: The Bambino Gesu Paediatric Hospital in Rome, Italy are world leaders in Car T Cell Therapy for Neuroblastoma. They have a proven success rate of 82% in treating relapsed Neuroblastoma!
The pioneering team at this hospital has assessed Jack and believe he could benefit from this treatment, They are awaiting his latest scan results due July 2024 to determine the next steps.
The bad news: Australia does not have a facility to perform Car T Cell Therapy for Neuroblastoma, nor will the Government budget extend to supporting overseas travel for children in this circumstance. So we are once again asking for your help please.
The Car T Cell Therapy treatment alone costs $550,000. That’s $50,000 more than our original fundraising target. In addition, we will need to travel to Italy at least four times over two years. The first stay - will need to be for three months, with subsequent visit durations dependent on Jack’s response to the treatment. We hope to commence this treatment by the end of 2024.
And so, we have a new fundraising target of $700,000.
It's an overwhelming amount of money, but with an 82% success rate, it will be worth every single dollar if it saves Jack's life.
We are so incredibly grateful for all the support we have received. Every single dollar donated gets Jack closer to the treatment he needs, so thank you in advance for anything you are able to give.
This fight for a lifetime isn’t just for Jack. By donating, you’re helping children throughout the world benefit from the data collected from his participation in a trial that provides further and vital information to our Doctors. Importantly, you’re also helping build the case to bring Car T Cell therapy here to Australia
They say it takes a village to raise a child. Thank you for getting ‘Behind the Bear’ and being part of Jack Jack’s village as he fights for a lifetime. We can’t do this without you.
Thank you to my Sponsors
$38.33
Paul Mcneil
$106.12
Anonymous
All the best wishes to you Jack and your family
$50
Anonymous
$10
Anonymous
$100
Anonymous
$5
Anonymous
$50
Athena Hudson
$50
Anonymous
$100
David Sparshott
$10
Ken & Karen Smart
$100
Miryam Schejtman
$50
Anonymous
$50
Anonymous
$10
Anonymous
All the best to you and your family Jack
$25
Brenton Pobjie
Sending hope
$50
Edwina Cobon
$500
Phil Isard
Outstanding Reg.
$100
Neil Thomas
Hey Jack, wishing you all the very best.
$100
Nanna Doris Andre
Sending you my best wishes for your treatment and recovery, from Nanna Doris.
$250
Rick Ball
Go Jack, keep fighting and get well. Thanks Reg for riding 1000k to help this little guy!
$475
Reg Crawford
From all of the people who visited Reg
$50
Peter Townsend
Go Jack
$100
Sue Baquie
Go Jack and go reg
$200
Colleen Simon Fellows
$10
Lisa Brett
$50
Linda Foran
$100
Anonymous
From the Cunningham Family
$200
James Dack
True hero
$100
Claire C
Another donation from Reg Rides for Rome!
$20
Angela Piper
$200
Esther Kruger
$10
Hannah Roberts
$25
Kiara Saunders
You’ve got this Jack! 🤍
$100
Ann Bernard
Wishing you all the best in Jack's treatment journey.
$200
Anonymous
$100
Anonymous
$10
Anonymous
$200
Maxwell Brinsmead
$50
Mal White
Stay strong little champ
$50
Anonymous
$50
Geoff Simpson
$50
Louise Breheny
Wishing you the best
$200
Rhonda And Don Ross
Get well little man. 😊
$500
Geoff Symonds
Best of luck with it mate All Willow Tree are with you.
$1,000
Quigley Farms
Best of wishes and Good luck Jack. We areThinking of you and your Family. Tony, Sally, Richard, Alex, George, Emily, Tom, Lauren Quigley. Quigley Farms, Trangie. We sell Grain with your uncle Justin.
$34
Marianne Buyskes-abrahams
A donation from my son, to yours x
$50
Anonymous
God bless all of you.
$50
Jude Scholefield
From one Scholefield to another Schofield. Saw your story on the news! Good luck with everything. Big love xx
$100
Anonymous
Go Jack
$20
Michelle Williams
$100
Carol Campbell
Hoping you reach the funds target to help little Jack.
$50
Anonymous
Hi Jack visualise a PAC Man running through your body gobbling up the bad cells.
$50
Anonymous
Wishing you all the best 🙏❤️
$500
Corne Vd Walt
$100
Anna Rabagliati
We haven’t met but I have seen you in c2North once or twice. I am a fellow cancer mum. Heartbreaking to read about the relapse. Hope you can get to Italy as soon as possible for this treatment xx
$10
Anonymous
$50
Noel & Lorraine Mclaughlin
$30
Anonymous
Sending positive thoughts your way x
$100
Anonymous
$100
Anonymous
Stay strong little man. And family.
$50
Anonymous
Go Jack Go!
$100
Dixie Ernst
$50
Anonymous
$20
Michelle Keogh
$30
Ruby H
$50
Anonymous
All the best little man.
$50
Trish Fellows
Go Bear
$100
Anonymous
With ❤️
$100
Anonymous
Praying for a great outcome Jack.
$50
Janice Driscoll
$100
Anonymous
$100
Anonymous
$100
Anonymous
$25
Erin Rummer
With love
$25
Anonymous
$100
Anonymous
$100
Tania Busslinger
Keep fighting Jack!
$100
Anonymous
$500
Campbell Financial
$100
Bronwyn Meurer
$500
Andrew M Cannon Am
$100
Jane Reynolds
Wishing a full recovery and a long, healthy life to your darling Jack and to you, his extraordinary family
$50
Anonymous
$10
Kellie Di Lullo
God bless you and your family Jack!
$50
Megan Best
Sending love for a great recovery xx
$10
Julian Laycock
$10
Gabby Dowrick
$20
Christine Payne
$50
Phill Holden
$50
Colin Picker
Good luck
$25
Anonymous
Wishing all the best to Jack!
$10
Maria Rocca
$10
Jess Cleall
$10
Anonymous
$10
Anonymous
$50
Kerry Catford
$50
Paul & Vicki Armstrong
Good luck Jack
$50
Kelly Toghill
$20
Anonymous
$20
Anonymous
$10
Anonymous
$50
Kendall Nabhan
$20
Anonymous
$50
Amanda Huggins
$200
Andi Csontos
Go Jack!!!
$50
Beck K
Wishing you the very best of luck on your journey.
$150
Miranda Shane
$500
Alice O’brien
$1.2k
Bennetts Petroleum Supplies Pty Ltd
$50
Virginia Waters
$100
Spencer Pascal
$2.5k
John Elsworth
Hi Jack. I heard your mum speak about your challenges last night. You sound like a great kid with a wonderful mum. Wishing you all the best for a speedy recovery. "Don’t give up, don’t give in...."
$100
Karen Phillips
$100
Tony Hemburrow
$1,000
Dani Kusumah
$100
Ingrid Lourensz
Behind the Bear - Paul Grayson Umina Nsw - thank you 🙏
$50
Eric Tatarelli
$100
Andrea Chin
$50
Anonymous
$100
Di B
$100
Anonymous
$100
Caitlin Maurel
$500
Tiffany Clapham
$100
Margaret Harris
$100
Anonymous
Big hugs to you all, such an incredible family. x
$100
Anonymous
$50
Anonymous
You are so brave young man. Wishing the long and full life you deserve.
$200
Anonymous
$100
Andrea Chin
Big hugs to you and your family. Sending you all so much love.
$50
Lizzi Moran
$50
Abby Ruffle
Go get ‘em Jack! From the Ruffle family.
$20
Kerrie Trounce
Stay strong Jack Jack.
$20
Anonymous
Good luck
$25
Anonymous
$50
Jillian Dawson
$20
Anonymous
$25
Anonymous
$100
Anonymous
$50
Suzanne Landers
We wish your family every success with young brave Jack. Love James& Suzanne Landers
$44
Anonymous
$25
Anonymous
$500
Maxwell Brinsmead
Farrer Class of 1960-64
$50
Anonymous
$200
Anonymous
$100
Tony Mosman
Good Luck Jack and keep up the swimming!
$50
Anonymous
$25
Anonymous
$150
Victor & Rita Gocentas
God bless you on your journey
$10
Nikki Munro
$100
John Lingwood
$260
Melinda Wyse
We love you Jack Jack! 💛 The Wyses
$500
Chatswood & Ryde Toyota
$20
Aveek A
Care of my friendly Uber driver
$100
Robyn Mcfarlane
Go well Jack! We will be thinking of you. Robyn & John McFarlane
$30
Anonymous
$1,000
Stratharlie Past Co P/l
$5k
John H Jones Pty Ltd
I just love your favourite song Jack! My thoughts are going to be with you all the way.
$3k
Simpsons Fuel
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
$5k
Purtill Group (ampol Deniliquin)
$160
Di Schofield
In leu of Grandi’s haircut from my two precious hairdressers
$15
Peggy Lobsey
$200
Kay Jackson
$50
Anonymous
$10
Joanne Holder
$300
David Ainsworth
$100
Ingrid Lourensz
Behind you all the way Jack Jack - Mary and Barrie - Umina Nsw
$500
Tim Henderson
$2.9k
Ian Burrows
$2k
Colin Hall
Sending love and strength to you all
$100
Tracey Roberts
You're our little Super Hero Jack!
$20
Anonymous
$50
Kathryn Rinaldo
$100
Shane Kerr
$50
Lisa Jacob
$50
Anonymous
$150
Anonymous
Sending love and healing strength to Jack 💙
$50
Karishma Desai
$500
Hightide Coaching
Wishing you all the best with your treatment Jack.
$100
Chris Arnold
$1,000
Sandstone Project Management
$50
Anonymous
$1,000
James Mcilveen
With love from Alice, Will, Lorna & James
$100
Elizabeth Pickworth-kamel
Thinking of your darling Jack.
$20
Alexis Neylan
$20
Anonymous
$20
Helen Mcdonald
$200
Robyn Mcaneney
Love the McAneneys
$1,000
Anonymous
$500
Grant Fenn
$500
Anonymous
Our thoughts & prayers are with Jack & Family
$25
Jenny Jackson
Good luck from a fellow Tradie Wife
$50
Jo Takle
Can’t imagine what you are going through ! I hope the TWs can help x
$25
Tech On Call
Good luck to your beautiful boy 💙 Sending love from a fellow Tradiewife xx
$25
Aimee Denbesten
Some more TW love x
$50
Cassandra Goss
Good luck Jack. The TW’s have your back
$50
Rae Jamieson
$100
Tradiewives
All our love and support from the TradieWives team 💗
$100
Asphalt Innovations
With love from a Tradie Wife xo
$50
Anita Pava
Good luck Jack
$20
Anonymous
Wishing you well x
$20
Kath Pattingale
#Tradiewives sending you lots of love and positive vibes x
$20
Alisdair Mcdonald
Another tradiewife x Anna
$15
Anonymous
$30
Sladana Taslidza
$10
Tracey Darmawan
Never give up. X
$50
Anonymous
$20
Anonymous
$100
Elizabeth T
Praying for your beautiful boy. 🙏💗
$10
Natalie Dunn
It takes a village to raise a child... here's my little help
$10
Anonymous
$50
Anonymous
Sending prayers
$25
Sheree Ellis
$10
Anonymous
$250
Anonymous
Future looks bright champ 💪
$20
Bl & Co Pty Ltd
$50
Alison Smith
$20
Jess Hart
$10
Judith Jordan Family And Collaborative Lawyer
$10k
Mandy Bushell
Love to you all, Mandy and Stu
$25
Sarah Simmonds
❤️ from a TradieWive
$300
Virginie Franco
Thinking of you and Jack and sending you hope.
$100
Kara Vague
Thinking of you little Jack! What an amazing Mum you have. xo
$30
Andrea Cullen
Take care from Baby Raffa and family x
$20
Anonymous
$50
Carol Ferguson
$50
Brooke Turnell
$50
Diana Cornish
Blessings and good health to your beautiful boy Jack . With love from Mels Auntie Di 🩷🩷
$20
Anonymous
$50
Rebecca Wyse
Good luck Jack. We know you can do it! Love from Tom’s aunty Bec and cousins Liz, Henry amd Tilly
$25
Anders Gustafsson
$50
Anonymous
Jack I wish I could give you millions. All the love in the world for complete recovery
$10
Rajan Arora
$8k
Origin Energy Foundation
Matching Origin employee donation
$100
Jim Groves
Our best wishes Jack Jack
$2k
Wotso Flexspace
Wishing you all the best! From the WOTSO team.
$100
Anonymous
$50
Ellie O’brien
Donated on both pages - c’mon Australia 🇦🇺 let’s speed this process up!! Good luck and best wishes guys. 🙏❤️💋 Ellie
$2k
Whitehouse Real Estate
$2k
Whitehouse Realestate
Casino Night Donation - Whitehouse Realestate
$1,000
Mf & Jm Pursehouse
$100
Anonymous
$200
Geoffrey Bourne
$50
Leanne Giunta
Sending my love and thoughts and prayers. Leanne x
$50
Michelle Oconnor
Thanks for sharing your courageous journey. Good luck to "Jack Jack"
$25
Michael Buckley
May the force be with you Jack Jack
$50
Grade
$50
Vinnie D'alessandro
Good luck Jack
$50
Ink Recruitment
Lots of love to you & your family. Wishing a speedy recovery jack
$100
Priya Kaur
Sending prayers and best wishes to little soldier Jack! Goodluck to you and your beautiful family, Jaimee 🙏
$20
Nikos Skouroliakos
$1,000
Sam Sofi
$50
Dipole Group
Wishing Jack Jack the best for the future!
$100
Claudia Blanch
Jaimee, sending love and light your way ❤️ Good luck with Jack’s treatment xx
$250
Lena Giunta
Wishing you all the best.
$30
Noreen Tariq
What a brave little boy, wishing you a speedy recovery
$50
Antony Sharpe
Wishing you all the best of luck, sending you love and prayers
$50
Katriona Lee
Best wishes for Jack
$250
Julia Mangioni
Our hope is that Jack will be able to get the assistance he needs in America.
$50
Sharina Krivacic
$100
Elenael Korolkova
Good luck ❤️
$100
Jessica Turner
My little Jack Jack you are such a brave little boy!! I hope Sandy the seahorse is by your side! Love you lots Miss Jess❤️
$25
Anonymous
$25
Anonymous
From Vicki Karen’s sister
$20
Chris Cook
$200
Leanne Giunta Giunta
Sending my love and thoughts and prayers. Leanne x
$200
Cath Mcgirr
$50
Jenny Bensted
One day when Jack is older he will remember this as a distant memory. This I know.
$50
Anonymous
May God bless and heal you Jack🙏🏻
$500
Heather Horton
I am HBE0970 On instagram where I came across your story, Manly Observer. Donated with hope and care
$25
Hilary Walsh
Wishing you all the best with the treatment
$200
Joel Mcelveney
$1,000
S K
$500
Michael Ferguson
$50
Nathan Mcmillan
For Jack, thinking of you guys.
$50
Maddie Wilson
All the best to Jack and his family
$500
John Humphrey
$500
Robert Dynon
$200
Melissa Small
$100
Mark Giunta
$25
Anonymous
$100
Anonymous
$200
Anonymous
$50
Anonymous
$50
Ram Bandla
Love....
$5k
Lyn Hall
$100
Varun Agarwal
I hope you get well soon Jack. God bless!
$100
Sudeer Ganapathiraju
God be with you jack.
$100
Anonymous
In my thoughts and prayers! Keep going!
$100
Anonymous
$200
Alex Mcpherson
$1,000
Kelly Wood
$100
Effie Dimitriou
$100
Liam Baker
$100
Anonymous
Lots of warm wishes
$100
Drew Barnard
We're with you Jack, All the best!
$100
Anonymous
$100
Charlie Delaney
Warrior in Training, Champion in Making
$50
Samantha Campbell
$25
Elliott Howard
All the best Jack!
$200
Richard Mcintosh
$100
Ben Grace
$250
Maria Vescio
Sending love and prayers ❤️🙏
$50
Anonymous
$50
Graeme Paterson
Wishing Jack the very best of luck for the ongoing treatment
$50
Anonymous
Get well soon buddy !
$200
Skale It Solutions
$50
Maria Fitzsimons
$100
Marc Castro
You got this Jack! Wishing you and the family strength.
$20
Anonymous
$50
Pamela Wallace
$300
Bec Hill
$50
David Boyd
$50
Polly Buerano
$50
Joe Buerano
$100
Elise Kerswell
Sending so much love and strength xx
$200
Annie Crawford
Good luck and sending strength to you all
$50
Shirley Pim
Holding you in our thoughts x
$150
Shannon And Peter Corbett
$100
Lisa Hambling
Sending love.
$30
Anonymous
$20
Mike Robson
All the best Jack!
$100
Platform Architects Pty Ltd
$100
Simone Ryan
$100
Kim De Kock
Love you JT, Treno, Ted and Jack Jack❤️
$50
Anonymous
I know a child who had the same diagnosis at 3 months old, he is now 12 years old. I wish the same for Jack. There is hope. Xxx
$100
Yarna Halton
$100
Yarna Halton
$50
John And Barbara Smith
Thinking of you all, in our prayers and positive thoughts. Jacko and Barb Smith and family
$100
Monika Round
Hi to our beautiful Jack Jack. Your are such a strong Bear. 💖
$500
Gordon Philip Hook
You are in our thoughts and prayers. Ann, Gordon and Shaun Hook
$20
Nadia Kerr
$1,000
Duncan Auty
$50
Maeve Hollywood
Best of luck from Ireland.☘️
$150
Karen Phillips
Wishing you all the best for Jack’s treatment and recovery.
$50
Hannah Dennis
$100
Kate Hensley
$30
Jen Bryant
Sending healing, love and strength to all.
$100
Liney Manning
For a precious boy. 🤗
$500
Anonymous
$50
Hannah Kleboe
Hoping for the brightest future for Jack Jack ❤️
$100
Susan Jay
Good luck with raising the money for beautiful Jack
$500
Linda Hogg
$500
Bill Hannan
Wishing you all the best
$100
Alister Coleman
$250
Julie Xu
All the best Jack, you got this.
$50
Vanessa Leibman
Hoping the family is able to get Jack the treatment he needs 🙏🏻
$50
Vicky Doneska
From my own little Jack Jack to yours. God bless little one; may this be the answer to your prayers.
$3k
Elias Family
$50
Anonymous
$500
Carmen & Mum
Stay strong Jack. Thinking of you JT.
$50
Anonymous
$5
Anonymous
$500
Gordon And Sue Adams
We wish you the best outcome , we know this situation as our grand daughter Sophie was diagnosed at 19 months and went to Barcelona for treatment ,she’s 6 now .
$100
Angus Bradley
Wishing you the best Jack
$100
David Thomas
$50
Diana Christopher
Jack, you are so strong and simply amazing! Wishing you the best.
$50
Sanjeev Arjunagi
Get well soon!
$100
Krishna Pabari
$200
Pamela Moodley
Wishing your family all the best
$500
Yellow Edge
All the very best Jack! We are in your corner!
$500
Anonymous
Best wishes for the little bloke and his future
$20
Anonymous
$50
Sheryl Carroll
Praying for his healing 🙏
$50
Rebecca Walker
Wishing you and your beautiful boy lots of care.
$100
Anonymous
$50
Anonymous
$50
Anonymous
Get well soon Jack. Sending you speedy recovery
$100
Anonymous
$25
Anonymous
$10
Rebecca Cubitt
$25
Anonymous
Hey Jack, stay strong and all of us are rooting for you. You are such a champ!
$100
Sonja Mosca
$50
Emma Pursey
$100
Anonymous
$200
Helen Lyons
Our prayers are with you
$100
Mark Stretton
$25
Anonymous
Thinking of you and every little bit helps the hope.
$30
Karen Luu
We have a Jack too. Wishing that you get the best treatment available to get him well so he can live his best life.
$200
Alena W
Wishing you a full recovery Jack! Sending you the biggest hug JT.
$50
Anonymous
$50
Anonymous
$50
Angela Victor
Sending your family love
$250
Chris Noble
$500
Phil Goulstone
You got this, big guy.
$100
Clare & Paul Jolly
Sending you & your little mate so much love, strength and courage 💙
$100
Anonymous
$100
Adam Donkin
$100
Kate Taylor
Sending love and strength to you all ❤️Love from Kate, Mike, Ruby & Isla xox
$50
Meralda Bateman
Sending all our love. You are in our thoughts and prayers x
$100
Anonymous
$250
Richard And Kate Vines
With our very best wishes. Stay strong.
$50
Ryan De Graaff
Thoughts and prayers with all of you, stay strong.
$50
Kathleen Bailey
$200
Germaine Landers
... For a lifetime ❤️
$100
Rebecca Sutton
Feel the love for Jack and yourselves. xoxoxo
good journey.