In December of 2025, our 11-year-old son Jackson mentioned something simple—just a little “tummy pain.” It was looked at during a check-up and nothing was found. Like most parents, we didn’t think much of it. It didn’t seem serious, and after that, he didn’t bring it up again for a while. ‍Life kept moving, and so did he. Then in January of 2026, Jackson mentioned the same pain again. Still mild, still nothing alarming—but this time we decided to get it checked out, just to be safe. His doctor scheduled an ultra-sound, and on February 5th, we took him to our local hospital, expecting reassurance and answers that it was nothing serious... Instead, everything changed.

The ultrasound revealed something concerning—something the staff wasn’t ready to explain without further testing. Within hours, Jackson was transferred to Prisma Children’s Hospital in Columbia. There, a CT scan revealed the news no parent is ever prepared to hear: Jackson had a mass in his abdomen, along with intussusception—a condition where the intestine folds into itself. Emergency surgery was needed immediately.

Within two hours, a surgical team was assembled, and Jackson was in the operating room. As parents, we stood there helpless, watching our world shift in an instant. The surgery corrected his intestine, and doctors removed a portion of it, but the mass they found raised even more concern. It was sent off for biopsy. A few days later, the diagnosis was confirmed—Jackson had Stage IV Burkitt Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. In what felt like the blink of an eye, our lives were turned upside down. Just days before his ultrasound, Jackson was excited about an upcoming family ski trip. He was your typical 11-year-old boy—full of energy, always outside, hunting, fishing, playing sports, or enjoying video games with his friends. Cancer wasn’t even a word in our vocabulary.

Jackson spent nearly a month in the hospital recovering from surgery and beginning his fight. He endured a pre-round and then a full round of chemotherapy with a strength that continues to inspire us every single day. Through it all, he has remained brave, resilient, and determined in a way that no child should ever have to be.

This journey has shown us the power of community, faith, and unwavering support. Jackson is not just fighting—he is fighting hard. Every prayer, and every act of kindness helps carry him—and our family—forward. Jackson is still that same little boy at heart. He still loves the outdoors, still dreams big, and still has so much life ahead of him. And we are going to fight right alongside him—every step of the way.

-Michael Parker