Jae's Story
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Shortly after her second birthday, Jae started showing signs of "typical" childhood illnesses. If it wasn't a cough that wouldn't go away, it was high fevers that would come and go.Things got more serious when her parents Clarence and Dee begin to noticed a limp. Jae was having trouble walking, but the seriousness of what was to come, was masked by what they thought was just another childhood injury. Maybe she had fallen at school or strained a muscle doing things that children do, they rationalized. There was even a hospital visit late one night after another bout with coughs and fevers that turned into a diagnosis of pneumonia. With medicine, her parents were told, she would be fine. Then one Sunday morning as they were preparing for church, they noticed swelling over her left shoulder that couldn't be explained away. A quick google search and an examination of that area revealed some dreadful possibilities. Hopeful they finished getting dressed for church. Dreading what could be, the planned a trip to urgent care.
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After a full day of exams, Jae was whisked away to Shands at The University of Florida. A doctor had come in a given Clarence and Dee the worst news possible. He feared that the swelling they had seen earlier that morning was cancer. After more extensive exams at Shands, it was revealed that not only did Jae have cancer, but she had stage four cancer. It was neuro blastoma and it had literally spread throughout her entire body and took root in her bones. Her parents were told that they were facing a long uphill journey, but with a year of treatment which would include, chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and a stem cell transplant, there was a possibility that her life could be saved. No promises were made about her survival, but her doctors were confident.
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Jae's experience was taxing on her little body. The experience was also taxing on her parents and family. It was a tough year. Jae lost her hair, she spent weeks at a time in the hospital, she endured countless hours of painful surgeries and other medical procedures. She even labored through nausea and spiking fevers. But throughout the entire process, Jae proved to be a valiant combatant. She forced smiles everyday. She fought through pain everyday with a gracefulness that garnered her the title "Princess" by all who were watching this amazing little girl fight for her life. She became a symbol of hope. She became a symbol of strength; not just to her family, but to thousands in her community and around the world who had heard about her story. She championed the mantra #JaeStrong and became the reason why some people decided to fight for their lives through sickness and pain.
After a year of treatment and what doctors called a miracle of a journey, Jae had beaten cancer by age three. But by age four the cancer had reappeared. At age six, on July 1, 2022 Jae peacefully left us to be with the Lord after a valiant fight. Though she lost her life, The Jae Jackson Childhood Cancer Foundation was founded to ensure that she never loses her voice and impact. May her life compel you to support through your generous gifts, so that more children and families will live to tell stories of complete healing.
