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Let's get Jack to the Rugby World Cup!

  • Triumph in Melbourne

      12 June 2024
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    Update on Jack! I'm in Melbourne and have seen Jack for the first time since he left NZ on the world rugby cup trip (thanks again everyone! He looks amazingly well and I haven't seen him laugh and smile like this in a long time. As usual he doesn't say much about his cancer, but things are certainly a million times better since he moved to Melbourne. I am humbled by how he has dealt with everything and continues to do so. I'm so grateful that he has been able to receive the latest drugs at no cost in Australia, and that the care he receives is so excellent. He remains on fortnightly treatment for another year.

    NZ is far behind in this area and I feel absolutely gutted that life saving and life extending treatment is not freely available to all cancer patients in NZ.

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  • Jack's trip and current status

      5 January 2024

    Thanks to your kind donations, Jack had a fantastic trip to France where he attended 2 rugby games and enjoyed exploring Paris. From there, he and his brother and sister in law went to Italy, Germany, England and Spain.

    Unfortunately on his return to Melbourne where he is now living with his brother, scans showed that his treatment in NZ has been unsuccessful and he has new tumours, and growth of existing ones. He is now receiving 2 different immunotherapy drugs. It is wonderful that they are available at no cost to him there and that he is closely monitored by oncologists.

    I am thankful for the treatment options he has in Australia and I try to remain positive for the best outcome for Jack.

    Thanks for being part of 'getting Jack to France'.

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  • Urgent!!

      11 October 2023

    Does anyone want to buy Jack's Toyota Hilux?

    His attempts to get some of his KiwiSaver released have failed so he really needs the extra cash to establish his new life in Melbourne near Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.

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  • Thankyou!!!

      29 September 2023

    The givealittle page is now closed and Jack is preparing to head off to Melbourne on 14th Oct, then off to France to the RWC four days later. His accommodation and flights have been paid for thanks to your generous donations, and he has money to travel a little before returning to Melbourne where he is going to live. He has 2 brothers in Melbourne. His cancer treatment has been transferred to Melbourne and he has already been informed by Peter Mac Cancer Centre of possible treatments that may be more effective, over there. I'm switching between being happy that he is going to get out there and life his life well, and dreading his departure.

    However I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has helped my lovely son to achieve something that is important to him. Let's hope the AB's put on a great performance!

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  • This page has only13 days left to run!

      15 September 2023

    Jack is preparing to embark on his trip to France on October 14th. Dates have been changed since stated earlier. He flies to Melbourne where his brother and sister in law live, and the 3 of them will fly to France together. Thanks to all of you who have so generously donated and made it possible for Jack to achieve his dream of getting to France.

    Jack's treatment seems to be going well but it will be a relief when he has a scan and we can see how his lung is looking now. Fingers crossed 🤞

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  • So grateful!

      23 August 2023

    Donations continue to come in, it's amazing how kind and caring people are. There have been donations from friends, family, and people who don't know Jack, from as far afield as Australia, Canada, and Norway, to the South Island and North Island of NZ. It's overwhelming to receive such support. Our little Feilding community has been amazing and we appreciate each and every one of you. Special shout out to an amazing 13 year old in Feilding who has organised a bake sale, two lotto draws, and who has delved into his piggy bank to donate to Jack. Thank you Cooper xx

    Jack hasn't loved this public attention but he knows that he wouldn't be heading off to France with flights and accommodation paid for otherwise. No one ever wants to be in a position where they ask for help publicly and Jack often says he doesn't deserve it and that there are people worse off. From where I sit, having stage 4 metastatic melanoma is pretty damned serious. It was my idea to start the page and I know he certainly never would have. I, like the rest of Jack's family can't thank you all enough for making Jack's trip possible.

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  • Please share the link

      9 August 2023

    Thanks for the continued support and donations. Jack is heading to France in September and would like to explore as far as possible in the window between his immunotherapy treatments. Flights are booked but extra money for daily expenses is needed. Please share the link to the givealittle page as far and wide as you can

    Thanking you all sincerely xxx

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  • What's new?

      5 July 2023
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    Hi everyone, Jack has had two treatments now and will have a scan after the next one I believe. It could be before, I just can't remember what Jack told me. He is doing well. There are side effects as to be expected but they are manageable. I'm counting on keytruda to work some magic. He has been given a couple of alternative treatments from caring people too (Thanks ladies, you know who you are), so I am holding out for good things happening. One of his brothers kindly gave him a Lego 75,000 piece millennium falcon, so building that is keeping him busy. I just want to say at this point that I am so happy to see Jack and his five siblings so united. My heart is happy to feel the love between them all. Thanks Phil and Amanda, Craig and Kim, Adam and Grace, William, and Pippa. You make such a difference. Only 85 days left for this page. It has been overwhelming to see people we know and people we don't being so generous. Thank you all for helping get Jack to France. Not long till it's a happening thing.

    With love and gratitude from Jack, myself and the rest of our family xxx

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  • Treatment has begun.

      19 June 2023

    Jack has had his first keytruda treatment. He has some side effects that are uncomfortable but in a couple of months we should know whether it is working. Fingers crossed for tumours having shrunk when he has his next scan.

    His diet doesn't allow deli meats, red meat and several other things. He can eat veggies, fruit, lentils and high fibre foods. I will have to get creative.

    Thanks again for the well wishes and donations. There will be some spending money for Jack's trip to France. We are so very grateful.

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  • Treatment at last

      27 May 2023

    Jack finally received a call in regard to his biopsy results. He will not be having surgery to remove the new tumours on his lymph nodes or the mass on his lung. He will begin immunotherapy instead because of the speed at which the cancer has spread.. It seems that he now qualifies for funded keytruda because of the spread of his cancer. He has a meeting with the oncologist and surgeon next Friday so hopefully they start him on treatment immediately. He was first diagnosed in Jan 2022 and has had no treatment yet apart from surgery. Its pretty surreal as his Mum writing this. Its the last thing you ever imagine for one of your children.

    Thanks everyone for your wonderful support. It is appreciated more than I can say.

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  • Good news bad news

      21 May 2023

    Due to your generosity Jack's flights and accomodation in France have been booked and will be covered by donations to date. Unfortunately however, cancer has returned in his lymph nodes and he has a small mass on a lung. We are awaiting the decision on when surgery will take place. This will mean he can't start the clinical trial as planned. We don't know yet whether he will still have a place on the trial. This isn't the news we wanted to hear after his scans but at least it has been picked up quickly. Thanks again for your kind thoughts and donations.

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    • 22/05/2023 by Michelle

      Oh Linda, I'm so so sorry to hear this news😢, pray he gets his surgery real soon and that his place on the trial is held for him. Give him a big hug from me, and lets catch up again soon❤

  • Tests and biopsies

      10 May 2023

    Without invading Jack's privacy too much, recent test results have delayed treatment starting. Donations cover his flights and accommodation for the RWC for which we are so very grateful. He would now like to use any further of his donated funds to travel to Australia to visit a friend he hasn't seen for some time. . He is keen to travel a bit further if at all possible. We thank you for your kindness and appreciate it more than words can express

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  • Screening begins

      20 April 2023

    Jack begins screening for a place on the clinical trial next week. Paperwork and baseline recordings to be done.He has a CT scan and MRI booked for early May. The trial has a 50% success rate so I'm staying positive he will be in the successful 50%. If successful it will make it less likely that the cancer will return. There's no easy fix but there is chance for him to be cancer free. No guarantees for how long.

    The oncologist said they can arrange treatment to allow him to go to France for the rugby. 👍🙂

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    • 21/04/2023 by Rochelle

      So pleased that the news is positive. All the best with the screening, and trial. You're in our thoughts.

  • Clinical Trial

      16 April 2023

    Jack has an appointment with a Dr regarding the trial tomorrow. It is the only treatment available to him but there are a multitude of side effects listed....some very severe. Once he has had this appointment he will have to decide whether or not to go ahead. We can only take a positive view that because he is young and otherwise healthy, he will do well on treatment if he goes ahead. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

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  • Treatment changes

      31 March 2023

    Firstly, thank you all for your generosity. It means so much to us. Jack has been surprised and touched by the messages and donations. Unfortunately the radiology oncologist has given Jack the news that he is stage 4, and radiation alone will not be an appropriate option. Immunotherapy is recommended but not funded. It would cost $70,000. He has however been offered a place on a clinical trial which means he would be on treatment every 3 weeks for a year, followed by radiation. We're still hoping he can manage to get to France. Thanks again xx

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