Please read my waffle to know JACK!
Jack is my Partners Grandson. He has been with us since he was just over one years old, and is now 10. Jack knows us as Mum and Dad.
Jack is a very sociable, well-mannered young man - there’s not a day goes by when we are approached by someone to compliment us on his manners.
Jack has ADHD and ASD, but nothing stops him. He is a real petrol head, loves cars, trying to mend things. He loves to work next to Dad, with his own tool table. He loved attending his SEN club every week BelieveSport, but hasn’t been able to attend this term. If Jack can’t visit AngliaCarAuctions to see the cars, and his mates that work there, we have to watch it on tv. Jack also loves to watch TruckerTim on YouTube, and managed to hitch a quick lift on the Boston Santa Run last year with Trucker Tim himself!.
What’s happened? -
This last 4-6 weeks his life has changed drastically, we are still in a shock bubble 😢
Jack went for a routine eye test in June to Specsavers. They thought he had a lazy eye muscle, so referred him to Peterborough City Hospital for Eye scans. PCH referrred him for an MRI brain scan as they felt that something was pressing on the optic nerve.
Jack had MRI two weeks later (Friday 02/08/24). The following Monday we received a phone call at 3pm to go up to PCH for 5pm - without Jack!
We were given the devastating news that they had found a mass on his brain. He would be referred to Addenbrookes Hospital in the next 1-2 weeks - but we received a call at 9.45pm to go to Addenbrookes that night.
Jack was booked in for a brain op, but firstly they would do another MRI. This scan showed that there was also some on the Spine 😢 instead of the Operation, Jack had a biopsy. This came back that he had a low grade Glioma, and that it was a slow growing type.
The plan was to start Chemotherapy or a trial drug, and then an operation would be possibly after puberty.
In the hope of being accepted for the trial, we needed a few more tests and another MRI - which was done on Monday 30/09/24. Late that afternoon we had a visit from the Neurosurgeon, to say that in the three weeks since the last scan, it had grown 5mm and he would need an operation on his brain the next day 😢
So, Monday he had MRI, Tuesday operation, Wednesday another MRI and Friday a Hickman line was fitted for Chemotherapy. He will be having a Shunt fitted in his brain possibly Sunday or the next few days.
Jack still has a few more tests to go, then will start on Chemotherapy or the trial drug for the next 18 months. There will possibly be another brain operation after Puberty 😢
What a horrendous battle our little Jack has to endure! 😢
Now to the hope of donations from you wonderful, caring People: -
We moved to our house to give Jack his own bedroom, and more importantly, a big garden for him, as he just loves being outside.
Our house had space, but needs a lot of renovation work, which we have been doing as and when we have the strength, energy and could afford to.
We have been told that we cannot continue due to spores in older buildings. Fortunately we have built an Annex, attached to where Myself, Partner, Jack and his beloved dog Shadow sleep, but the Annex is a shell at the moment. 😩
As we can do no building renovations to the main house, I am hoping to raise money to complete the interior of the Annex, so that Jack can have his own clean safe area - a bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette for medicines and to prepare foods there when he is not too well, and not wanting us out of his sight.
As he is now banned from his quad bike, a Gaming area would be a good distraction for him on his good days. Giving him a happy area, will hopefully help to distract Jack from the hell that he is and will be continuing to go through for many many years to come.
What’s needed?
The figure I am asking for might sound excessive, but it needs:-
Insulation - Plasterboard/Plastering - Plumbing & Heating - Electrical Work - Carpentry - Decoration - Kitchenette - Furnishing - Laundry Machines - Gaming Area.
Not forgetting the cost of the Trades People to carry out these tasks.
Any funds left over from your kind generosity will be donated to The Sick Children’s Trust, at Acorn House - as without their kind help, we wouldn’t be able to stay here on the Addenbrookes Hospital site.
I will be doing some more Charitable fundraising in the future as everyone has been as helpful as they can at this stressful time.
We thank you for reading this, and hope that you can make a donation - even a £1 donation and share and share with all your contacts, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and X - To help us reach our goal of making things easier for our gorgeous little mate, Jack.
Thank you again 🙏