After nine-year-old Jacob Thompson was hospitalized in October after a four-year battle with Stage 4 high-risk neuroblastoma, doctors told his family that he likely had just one month to live.
In response, his parents have decided to have their Christmas celebration early this year, and Jacob wants people to celebrate along with him by sending Christmas cards.
(Cards can be sent to Jacob, C/O Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center, 22 Bramhall St., Portland, ME, 04102.)
In the five days since Jacob made his Christmas wish, the family has received over 100 cards from onlookers and well-wishers from around the world, even Antarctica, just in time for the family to celebrate Christmas at the beginning of November. The celebration will include snow, a tree and, of course, Santa Claus, CNN reports.
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“With each card, message and video, we know people are sharing their love. Thank you, we know we are not alone.”
“Jacob loves receiving cards from people, especially other children. He smiles as he opens them and does his trademark ‘nose scrunch’ to let us know he’s happy,” said a statement from Jacob’s family.
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Jacob was diagnosed with the illness when he was just five years old and was recently admitted to the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital after doctors realized the neuroblastoma had spread to his head.
According to a GoFundMe page set up by Jacob’s mother Michelle Simmard to help with Jacob’s funeral costs, the family made the decision to admit Jacob to Barbara Bush after beginning chemotherapy and learning that there may not be any significant reduction in Jacob’s pain.
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The family also learned that Jacob’s hip is “peppered by tumours, which was described as looking like lace.” She wrote that this added to Jacob’s pain and affected his ability to move around.
The GoFundMe page has reached almost $90,000 of its $100,000 goal.
Jacob has received an outpouring of support from people across the Internet as well, including several celebrities, politicians and journalists.
CNN reports that Jacob’s favourite things include Minecraft, Legos and Star Wars. In addition to receiving cards, Jacob also received a visit from the University of Maine men’s hockey team on Thursday night, and an emperor penguin chick has been adopted on behalf of Jacob through the World Wildlife Fund.
Since Jacob also loves penguins, the family encourages everyone in a statement to take advice from Jacob’s favourite poem; “Advice from a Penguin.”
“Dive into life. Find warmth among friends. Stand together.”
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