Jack's Story

On 29th August 2023 Jack told me (his Mam) he'd found a lump on his neck the size of a 50p piece. The doctors saw him and referred him for an ultrasound on 26th September. On Tuesday 17th October Jack had a pain in his upper chest which wasn't easing off so i took him to the hospital at Penrith who x-rayed him straight away.

We were sent straight to childrens ward at Carlisle. That night about 5.30pm a doctor & nurse came in and said "have you any thoughts about what this could be?,....we are confident we are looking at Hodgkins Lymphoma". We were devastated..The very next morning we were sent to the Great North Children's Hospital at the RVI in Newcastle where we would start the cancer journey.

A biopsy on the 20th October, official confirmation of the cancer on the 27th October, 3rd November portacath inserted, 6th November chemo started & 23rd November hair shaved off (& 19 of his mates surprising him by getting theirs shaved too).

Multiple stays in hopsital on the teen cancer ward including Xmas Day getting strong meds as he was in in excruciating pain and couldn't walk due to the chemo and then admitted 27th December until 2nd Jan due to an infection & needing blood transfusions.

6 cycles of chemo later and on the 26th March he had his last chemo, we went out for a meal to celebrate in Newcastle (Jack, myself, his sister Tara & brother Mason) and while we were eating received an email inviting us as guests to the Bobby Moore Hospitality suite for the England vs Iceland friendly in June.

A week later on Easter weekend (31st March) Jack became neutropenic and very ill and we spent a week back in hospital with a bad chest infection. But on 30th April he was given the most amazing news that he was now in remission, hed beaten Stage 4 cancer.

He was our hero. He's never complained, just faced it head on, wanted to get treatment done and his main focus get back to football. Football is his life! Carlisle United our team (& he supports Liverpool) have done so much for him to support him and our family. He's had numerous news articles written about him (google Jack Musgrave Cumbrian teen!), his friends have fundraised, some doing a walk of 20miles around Ullswater Way & others doing a run around it & a charity football match.

With some of this money we have been able to donate toys & teen gifts to Ward4 inpatient cancer ward at the RVI. We also donated £500 of amazon vouchers & selection boxes at Christmas for the kids who were spending Christmas Day in hospital (at the time we didn't realise that would be Jack too!).
MHe's missed a lot of Year 10 at school, but even during treatment he would go in just for dinner just to see his friends but also aware of not mixing with too many people due to a compromised immune system. Tiredness and pain in his joints, hips, back & legs were the main side effects during chemo, and his muscle mass seemed to disappear within 2weeks of starting chemo. He was built athletically but by January the steroids were starting to put the weight on. But he's now in recovery, back playing football and getting fitter every week. He rang the bell on the 21st May & just wants to move on with his life now but is also very aware of what he's been through and how lucky he was to make it through the other side.
This break away for us as a family of 4 is very much appreciated, to get some time together before the new school term. Tara had not long passed her driving test (thankfully) when Jack was diagnosed & had to look after Mason and juggle college and work. Jack and i had long days making the 120mile round trips to Newcastle multiple times some weeks so Tara was in charge at home.

Thank you for having us at Bens holiday home ⚽️