Help us Help Jake
Help support Jake's family to focus on his fight against leukaemia, and avoid financial hardship along the way.
Waikato
On the 1st of March 2025, our nephew Jake was diagnosed with Leukaemia.
Jake is 16 years old. He’s an old soul who loves being with family, playing cricket, and rocking out on his drums.
His family are completely focused on supporting him, keeping his spirits up, and helping him navigate what will be the toughest time of his life.
Jake is being cared for in Waikato hospital, over an hour from his home in Waihi. He’s the youngest person on his ward (which has some perks, like having the youth hangout all to himself!) He’s about to start many months of treatment, and is in for a tough fight - but we know he can do it.
His parents, Nita and Hayden, are fully devoted to being with him each step of the way, and we are now planning for the huge financial impact of this. There isn’t a way for his hardworking Mum and Dad to keep going to work everyday, and to also have someone with Jake in the hospital each day and each night for the coming months.
We are so grateful for any support to enable them to focus on Jake at this time, to remove the stress of losing a pay check, to not have to worry about how the bills are going to be covered, and to help them with all the extra costs of being away from home for an extended period of time, while also keeping life as normal as possible for Jake’s younger brother Travis.
Jake can’t wait to get back to doing the things he loves once he conquers this.
Thank you for taking the time to read Jake’s story, and for considering supporting our family.
Josh Martyn's involvement (page creator)
My name is Josh Martyn, I am Jake's uncle and am part of his support network as he gets through this.
Use of funds
Eliminate the stress that comes with stopping work to focus on family during a crisis. Allowing Jake's parents to focus on supporting him as he fights this thing, by removing the financial burden of everyday living expenses, bills, and extra costs.
Latest update
6 Months on... 1 September 2025
We are now 6 months post Leukaemia diagnosis for our Jake.
The type of Leukaemia Jake has meant that the best result for him would be via a stem cell (bone marrow) transplant. After testing and an investigation of the worldwide register, it was determined that his best donor match was an anonymous donor from the UK.
Jake underwent what has been described as the strongest chemo one can have (that many adults dont tolerate), in order to prep for transplant. This obviously came with its own challenges.
On July 23rd the donor cells arrived after being escorted as carry-on by a kiwi tasked with this job. The same day, they were infused and since this time, Jake has been recovering and rebuilding a whole new immune system. It is impossible to put into words how horrendous this has been for Jake, and the four of us have managed things in isolation that I would not wish on another family.
I am so pleased to say that it appears the biggest challenges are now past us and that Jake is smashing expectations all over the place after his 'text book transplant'. He is to remain close to Starship for the next few weeks at least, so the amazing Ronald McDonald house is our home away from home... but he is now technically an outpatient!
Thank you for everyone's continued support.
Jake is now looking forward to life beyond hospital, going back to school, playing more drums, seeing more people. It's just a matter of time 😊
Latest donations
Thank you 💜
Thanks heaps! He's currently doing just that!
Thanks so much!
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