22/09/2026
💛 Jax’s Story 💛
A story of courage, strength, love and a little boy who never let cancer define him.
For Children’s Cancer Awareness, we wanted to share Jax’s story.
Not because it is an easy story to tell, but because Jax’s journey is one that deserves to be heard. His story reminds us that childhood cancer can present in ways that may seem completely innocent at first, and that knowing the signs and trusting your instincts can be so important.
🌟 The beginning
When Jax was just 7 weeks old, his parents noticed a very small, round, bluish mark on his head.
He was taken to the GP, who carried out an initial examination and arranged for Jax to be seen at the hospital.
At Oldham Hospital, doctors examined Jax and noticed that one side of his tummy appeared enlarged.
He had blood tests, which showed that his liver levels were deranged, and he was also suffering from severe constipation.
A scan was carried out, and this was when doctors discovered a tumour in Jax’s abdomen, which had caused one of his kidneys to become enlarged.
Jax was then transferred to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, where he underwent a biopsy.
The results confirmed something no parent should ever have to hear:
Jax had Stage 4 Neuroblastoma.
It was also at this point that doctors explained what the tiny bluish mark on his head was.
It was a “blueberry muffin spot” — a term used to describe certain blue or purple skin lesions in babies, which can sometimes be associated with underlying conditions, including cancers such as neuroblastoma.
Jax’s severe constipation had also been one of the symptoms he experienced as a baby.
He began chemotherapy, and the little bluish mark quickly faded.
Even before Jax had started his very first chemotherapy treatment, he experienced complications. He became very swollen due to a significant build-up of fluid around his stomach.
There were challenges throughout his treatment, but Jax continued to fight.
And at around 8 months old, Jax rang the bell.
He was officially cancer free. 🔔💛
🏃♂️ Jax was back to being Jax
After everything he had been through, Jax seemed determined to make up for every moment he had lost in hospital.
He became the most energetic, cheeky and crazy little boy.
He loved to run, climb and jump — and honestly, he was always running! 🤣
His perfect day was simple.
An open space.
A field.
A beach.
A park.
Anywhere that gave him the freedom to run, explore and be himself.
Cancer had been a part of Jax’s life, but it did not define him.
💔 When everything changed again
Around two years later, in June 2025, Jax became unwell.
Doctors initially thought he had gastroenteritis. He spent a couple of days in hospital before returning home and seeming to get back to his normal self.
Jax started to get un well again but this time, something wasn’t right.
Jax became increasingly distressed. He was sick. He was in pain. His parents couldn’t understand what was happening, and neither could the GP.
They became frequent visitors to the GP and A&E.
His parents repeatedly explained Jax’s medical history and his previous battle with neuroblastoma to the doctors who cared for him.
As end of June drew closer, things became increasingly worrying.
Jax was becoming very unsteady on his feet.
He would wobble.
He would trip.
His legs would give way.
And then, eventually, Jax could no longer walk.
His parents took him to A&E one final time, desperately knowing that something was seriously wrong.
Doctors carried out a full-body scan.
The results showed tumours in Jax’s spine and brain.
The disease was causing intense headaches, sickness and pain, and it had taken away something that had once been such a huge part of Jax’s life:
his ability to run.
For a little boy who had spent his life running everywhere, seeing him confined to a hospital bed, unable to move without being carried or using a chair, was devastating.
Jax had been given a diagnosis that no child should ever have to face.
🦸♂️ But cancer never changed Jax
The most incredible thing about Jax was that cancer never changed who he was.
Jax took everything in his stride.
While everyone around him was struggling to hold back the tears, Jax was busy living.
He made people laugh.
He made nurses smile.
He continued being cheeky.
He continued being Jax.
He honestly made everyone else look like wusses for crying when he was just getting on with life.
Ward 86 at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital became his home.
And Jax became one of the characters of the ward.
He was the comedian.
He could make a nurse laugh without even trying.
He spread his happiness and positivity to everyone he met.
💛 Fighting again
Jax started chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and initially, the treatment appeared to be working.
A few months later, scans showed that the tumours were shrinking.
The next stage of Jax’s treatment was a stem cell transplant, which meant he would receive extremely high-dose chemotherapy.
In October, Jax went into isolation for his treatment and the period afterwards because the chemotherapy essentially stripped his immune system.
But before isolation?
Of course, Jax needed one last adventure.
He had the best Halloween party in his Batman costume. 🦇
The nurses, doctors and parents whose children had been through the same treatment had warned Jax’s family about the side effects and how difficult the treatment could be.
But Jax did what Jax always did.
He sailed through it.
Still smiling.
Still cheeky.
Still himself.
🏥 ICU
Towards the end of his hospital stay, Jax developed a serious complication called VOD — veno-occlusive disease.
This is a condition where small veins in the liver become blocked, causing the liver to swell. It can occur as a complication of high-dose chemotherapy.
Jax initially appeared to be improving with medication.
Then, very quickly, everything changed.
His liver became enlarged and started causing problems with his potassium levels, platelets and heart rate. As well as his body having fluid overload that made difficult for him to breathe
Jax became extremely unwell and was transferred to intensive care.
He was in a coma-like state and needed to be intubated.
At times, he was relying on 100% oxygen.
Every monitor was watched around the clock by a nurse who stayed by his bedside.
Only two visitors were allowed at a time, and after 9pm, Jax would be left with his nurse while his family had to leave.
Nobody knew whether Jax would pull through.
But once again, Jax showed everyone exactly how strong he was.
Slowly.
Day by day.
He began needing less oxygen.
And then came Christmas Day. 🎄
His medication was reduced enough for Jax to wake up.
He opened his eyes.
And he opened his presents.
Surrounded by his family, in ICU, on Christmas Day.
The best present anyone could have asked for.
There were presents upon presents surrounding him.
And somehow, even after everything he had been through, Jax was still there — fighting.
New Year’s Eve was spent watching the fireworks across Manchester from his children’s hospital room.
🏠 Home again
Jax recovered well enough to return to his home away from home — Ward 86.
There were still lots of complications, but Jax continued with his treatment plan.
He began immunotherapy, which he was able to receive at home with his family.
And being home meant Jax could start experiencing life again.
He could go out.
He could see the world.
He could make memories.
He could simply be Jax.
But then the sickness returned.
Initially, it was thought that his symptoms could be caused by the many medications he was taking.
But the sickness became worse.
Jax was taken back to A&E.
Doctors were concerned by how he was presenting.
He was irritable.
Distressed.
Clearly in pain.
A CT scan showed that there was a shift in his brain.
Doctors couldn’t initially be certain what was causing it, so an MRI was arranged.
The MRI confirmed that the tumours in his brain had grown and that he had developed hydrocephalus.
Hydrocephalus occurs when fluid builds up in the brain, creating dangerous pressure.
It was a medical emergency.
Jax was rushed into surgery and doctors fitted a temporary shunt to help drain the fluid and relieve the pressure.
The change in Jax was almost instant.
Once the pressure was released, his family could see the difference.
A permanent shunt was then fitted.
But within days of being discharged, Jax began showing signs that the fluid was building up again.
He was taken back to A&E.
His shunt had to be changed back to a temporary one so doctors could monitor and control the drainage more closely.
There were further complications with the shunts and with Jax’s hydrocephalus, and this made it difficult to start radiotherapy.
And through every single complication, every procedure, every treatment and every setback…
Jax fought with every inch of himself.
Sadly, despite everything he and his family fought through, Jax passed away on 27th April 2026, after an incredibly brave battle, due to how aggressive his cancer was.
💛 Jax’s legacy
Jax’s story is heartbreaking.
But when we remember Jax, we don’t want to remember only the hospital beds, the machines, the treatment and the pain.
We want to remember the little boy who ran everywhere.
The boy who climbed.
The boy who jumped.
The boy who loved open spaces.
The boy in the Batman costume.
The boy who made nurses laugh.
The boy who could find joy in the darkest places.
The boy who showed incredible strength when the adults around him were struggling to understand how he could keep going.
Cancer never defined Jax.
Jax showed everyone around him how to find light in the darkest moments.
He showed us that bravery doesn’t always look like being fearless.
Sometimes bravery looks like getting up and trying again.
Sometimes it looks like smiling when you’re hurting.
Sometimes it looks like making someone else laugh when you’re the one going through the hardest battle.
And sometimes, bravery is simply being a little boy who continues to live every moment as fully as possible.
🎗️ Why we are sharing Jax’s story
We are sharing Jax’s story because awareness matters.
Childhood cancer can present in many different ways, and symptoms can sometimes look like common childhood illnesses.
Jax’s story highlights some of the symptoms his family experienced, including:
* Persistent or unusual sickness
* Severe constipation
* Abdominal pain or swelling
* An enlarged tummy
* Unexplained pain
* Changes in walking or balance
* Weakness in the legs
* Headaches
* Changes in behaviour or increased distress
* Symptoms that persist or repeatedly return
* Unusual skin marks or bruising
These symptoms can have many different causes and do not automatically mean that a child has cancer.
But if something doesn’t feel right, or your child’s symptoms persist, change or keep returning, it is important to seek medical advice and explain your concerns.
And most importantly:
You know your child.
If you feel that something isn’t right, keep asking questions.
Jax’s parents knew their little boy.
They knew when something had changed.
They continued taking him back to doctors and hospitals and continued explaining his history.
💛 Remember Jax
Jax’s story should never just be a story about cancer.
It should be a story about life.
About laughter.
About family.
About courage.
About never giving up.
About finding happiness wherever you can.
And about a little boy who showed so many people what true strength looks like.
Jax, you will always be remembered.
You will always be loved.
And your story will continue to help raise awareness of childhood cancer and the signs that parents may notice. 🎗️💛
🦸♂️ For Jax
“Never back down.
Be the light in the darkest times.
Keep fighting.
Keep smiling.
Keep living.”
This is Jax’s legacy. 💛
