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Home 5 Childhood Cancer 5 Mission Accomplished: How a Backpack Saved Jackson’s Childhood

Mission Accomplished: How a Backpack Saved Jackson’s Childhood

By St. Baldrick's Foundation

April 23, 2026
3 min read
A smiling child in a green shirt and backpack climbs a blue playground slide. Text reads: "Mission Accomplished: How a Backpack Saved Jackson’s Childhood."

For five-year-old Jackson, the early months after his B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia diagnosis were a whirlwind of ICU stays and grueling chemotherapy. Traditional treatment meant being tethered to a hospital pole, separated from his older brother and his life at home.

A young child in a blue shirt sits on a hospital bed with a purple blanket, playing with a teddy bear and toy medical kit, creating a comforting scene.

Then came the groundbreaking discovery of the decade: blinatumomab. This groundbreaking immunotherapy must be administered 24/7 for 28 days at a time. In the past, that meant living in a hospital room. But thanks to the power of research, doctors found a way to put that medicine into a portable pump.

The medicine went into a backpack, and Jackson went home.

Meet Jackson’s Co-Pilot

A child in a red shirt stands in a room with wooden floors, wearing a backpack shaped like an astronaut. The scene conveys a sense of adventure.

Jackson’s mom was amazed at how a five-year-old embraced such a big responsibility. His first bag was an astronaut backpack, and he quickly began referring to it as his “friend” that had to go everywhere he did.

Because research placed the portable pump inside that bag, Jackson knew exactly how to care for his “friend” while it did the hard work of keeping him in remission. This breakthrough gave him a 61% better survival rate and the freedom to be a kid again. Jackson was back to riding his bike, dancing to music, and being with the people he loves.

Help Send Kids’ Cancer Packing™

Today, Jackson is in the maintenance phase of his journey. With your support, every child can have the same chance to leave the hospital behind, return to childhood, and, ultimately, find a cure.

A woman wearing a bright yellow green backpack that reads "Conquer Kids' Cancer," raising awareness for childhood cancer research.

Take on the Send Kids’ Cancer Packing™ challenge and help take childhood back from cancer.

When you sign up, you’ll walk in the footsteps of kids like Jackson:

  • Wear It Proud: Carry your bright green St. Baldrick’s backpack for 28 days (or 28 miles) to represent the 28-day treatment cycle Jackson and others like him navigate.
  • Raise Funds: Set an optional goal to raise $2,500 for the 2,500 kids diagnosed with B-cell ALL each year.
  • Inspire: Use your backpack to start conversations, share Jackson’s story, and help fund the next breakthrough that brings a child home.

Join the Challenge

Let’s Send Kids’ Cancer Packing for good.

Your participation funds the researchers who make breakthroughs like blinatumomab possible. By joining this challenge, you are fueling the development of safer, targeted therapies so that kids like Jackson can spend less time in a hospital bed and more time being kids.

Let’s keep that momentum going until every child is home.

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