Beyond The Wish: Lexie
Clinging onto his Wish Coin after his stem cell transplant gave Jack hope he would get better and get to have his wish.
Jackson's day at Summer Bay
Jackson never misses an episode of Home And Away. Thanks to generous donors and supporters like you, he got to meet his favourite characters from Summer Bay.
Background
Meet Jackson
Jackson is the boy who is loved everywhere he goes.
The 14 year old has progressive peripheral neuropathy, which means according to mum Cher he has the “cognitive level of a 5 year old and the social/emotional level of a 2 year old."
Cher said Jackson had always been a “magnet” for people.
“There’s a lady here for instance at my work and she’s a cleaner and they have a really good bond,” Cher said.
“Everyone just loves him. The first school he went to the teachers bought him presents when he left. So many people love him.”
The wish
Home and Away's biggest fan
Cher said Jackson’s diagnosis in 2018 was heartbreaking for the family.
“He doesn’t have a mutation recorded on the worldwide database,” Cher said. “Because he’s the only one, they (medical experts) say ‘we don’t know’.
“The nerves in his body are slowly starting to die or shut down. They have talked about palliative care but we try and focus on the day to day.”
One of Jackson’s daily joys is watching Home and Away.
And while he initially told his mum his wish was to "run and kick the ball” like his brother, it was visiting his favourite Home and Away characters which become Jackson’s wish.
Wish Day
Jackson's bond with Robbo
Jackson’s eyes were always fixed on two Home and Away policemen - Robbo and Colby.
As Jackson, sister Piper and Cher waited patiently at the studios they were greeted by Robbo (played by Jake Ryan).
“He was like ‘come with me’ so Jackson was just starstruck,” Cher said.
“He gave us a wander around the set and introduced us to other cast members. The director and the assistant director gave him a headset and allowed him to go behind the screen.
“He got to wear some of the costumes, he got to go through make-up. It was just an amazing time.”
Jake followed up the next day by sending some of his personal Home and Away items and mementos to the family’s hotel.
“Then the other night when his character Robbo actually died on screen he video messaged Jack and said ‘We are going to be friends for a long time, it’s just TV it’s not real’ so it’s just been amazing,” Cher said.
“He is an amazing human.”
Wish effect
Memories thanks to your support
At 7pm every Monday to Thursday when the TV is turned onto Channel 7, Jackson is reminded of his wish day.
“It’s Home and Away every time and we have tantrums if we miss it. It is a good ‘get your jobs done’ strategy for the kids,” Cher said.
The wish day came at the end of a long year of medical appointments for Jackson.
“It was just perfect – all he wanted to do was meet Robbo and Colby and we had no idea it would be that big,” Cher said.
“The hotel, the limo. My hat goes off to you guys. We couldn’t be more appreciative. They are memories I couldn’t have given him.”
The Wish Journey
How a wish comes to life
1. Wish Capture
1. Wish Capture
Depending on availability, either our Make-A-Wish volunteers or our Wish Catcher team will arrange to meet each child (either in-person or virtually) to capture their greatest wish idea, getting to the heart of what they truly want and why. This is part of what makes Make-A-Wish unique, giving children full creative control while exploring their wish idea.
2. Wish Design
2. Wish Design
Back at Make-A-Wish HQ, we collaborate with families and volunteers, with support of the medical teams, to create the ultimate wish experience for each child.
3. Wish Anticipation
3. Wish Anticipation
In the lead up to the wish, we take each child on an anticipation journey designed to build excitement, keep them engaged until their wish comes true, and provide a welcome distraction from medical treatment. Anticipation can be incredibly powerful, helping to calm, distract, and inspire kids at a time they need it most.
4. Wish Realisation
4. Wish Realisation
This is when the planning, preparation, and anticipation of the wish finally comes true. Children get to experience their greatest wish – it's everything they’ve imagined and more.
5. Wish Impact
5. Wish Impact
Wish impact studies show that a child's wish lives on, long after the moment. A wish gives more than just hope – with an incredible and lasting effect on the lives of wish kids, their families, and wider communities.
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