A nine-year-old Maine boy with cancer has died after his wish for a Christmas celebration was fulfilled.
Jacob Thompson’s family used social media Monday to announce that he died Sunday at Maine Medical Center in Portland.
His family thanked those who sent Christmas cards and prayers, saying it gave joy to Jacob and optimism to his family.
An update to his GoFundMe on Monday read: ‘It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of Jacob’s passing with you. At just 9 years old, Jacob passed away after his a 4 year battle with neuroblastoma. We hope that Jacob’s story and the enormous outpouring of support from around the world will have a lasting impact on raising awareness for this disease. We hope that donations will be made, and a cure will be discovered as a result.
‘Each and every person who sent Jacob a Christmas card, a gift, a Facebook message or video, or a prayer made a difference in the final days of his life. You brought Jacob joy, and you brought us all optimism for the future. Thank you for taking the time, and taking an interest in our sweet boy’s journey. Sadly, there are many others like him that we hope you will continue to help.’
The family paid tribute to the people and organizations that helped them including the staff at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Jacob was diagnosed at the age of five with neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that starts in the nerve cells and generally affects infants and young children.
Neuroblastoma is a rare cancer that most commonly affects children ages five or younger, and it accounts for 7 out of 10 childhood cancers.
Every year, 800 children are diagnosed with neuroblastoma in the United States alone.
After being admitted to hospital in October, the family knew his time was short and help an early Christmas celebration at the start of November.
The family decorated his hospital room with a Christmas tree, lights and fake snow.
People were touched by the story. Cards poured in from around the world.
Jacob was inundated with cards and presents, the latter of which will be shared with fellow children at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center.
‘It’s been surreal really,’ his mother, Michelle Thompson Simard, told WCSH 6 at the start of November. ‘There has been a huge outpouring of support, prayers and love.’
The little boy also loved penguins. His family urged people to make a donation to a penguin rescue group, Operation Gratitude ‘or pay it forward in your community.’
Jacob is pictured opening a present at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center in Portland
Jacob is pictured with his grandparents, John, and Memere T. His family has asked for homemade Christmas cards to be sent to him as a means to help him celebrate Christmas early
He is pictured reading a homemade Christmas card. His family wrote on his GoFundMe page: ‘We want to send out a huge thank you for all the love and support. We will be paying this forward and giving back to the children’s cancer community. Please continue to keep checking for detail’