The touching moment a son secretly travelled 1,500 miles on Christmas Eve to surprise his mother who had been diagnosed with cancer has been caught on camera.
Debora Hendry, 60, from Nebraska, was diagnosed with lung cancer after doctors found a tumour the size of an egg on her lung in 2018.
Undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy, the mother-of-six was preparing for what she feared might be her last Christmas with her family – but her son Jacob, 32, a student studying mechanical engineering at The University of California, Berkeley, was missing.
Jacob is the only one of Debora’s children who has moved away from home, and the expensive three hour distance from Oakland to Nebraska, at around $350, meant it was rare for the student to fly home.
Unbeknown to Debora, Jacob pulled out all the stops to see her fior the first time in a year, saving up and borrowing money from friends to fly home and surprise her on Christmas Eve last year.
Jacob’s sister Becky filmed the special moment that Debora opened the door on 24th December and saw her son for the first time since her diagnosis, shouting ‘Oh my god – you lied to me!’, as the two burst into tears and embraced.
Debora is now in cancer-free after undergoing aggressive chemotherapy, and looking forward to spending Christmas 2019 with her whole family – including Jacob.
The touching moment student Jacob Hendry secretly travelled 1,500 miles on Christmas Eve to surprise his mother Deborawho had been diagnosed with cancer has been caught on camera
The heartwarming clip shows Debora overcome with emotion as she hugs her son Jacob before declaring it ‘the best Christmas ever’.
Jacob said: ‘Moving away from home was incredibly difficult for me. Friends, family – everything I’ve ever known was back in Nebraska.
‘I’ve been in California for 5 years now, and I think I’ve made it back for two Christmases. Being a full time student, it’s hard to come up with the money for flights.
‘When we received the diagnosis, it hit me hard. Being so far away from all your loved ones during a time like this was almost unbearable.
Undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy, the mother-of-six was preparing for what she feared might be her last Christmas with her family – but her son Jacob, 32, a student studying mechanical engineering at The University of California, Berkeley, was missing. (L-R) Sisters Rachael, Abby, Becky, Beth in grey shirt behind Becky, mother Debbie, and Jacob at rear
‘I thought about leaving school and moving back home, but I knew that my mother wanted me to continue my education.
‘I hadn’t been home in so long… I think it had been a year since I saw her last.’
He explained: ‘It was very difficult to come home for the holidays, we simply didn’t have the money.
‘I didn’t think I would be able to make it, until I was able to borrow the money at the last minute.
‘I purchased a ticket and decided to surprise my mom by showing up on Christmas Eve.
‘This was the first time I had seen her since the diagnosis, and I have not seen her since.
Debora Hendry, 60, from Nebraska, was diagnosed with lung cancer after doctors found a tumour the size of an egg on her lung in 2018
‘This opportunity to spend Christmas with her and the rest of my family meant the world to me – to all of us.’
Jacob had moved to California in 2014 to pursue his studies at UC Berkeley and lack of money for the expensive flights had made it difficult for him to travel home to see his family.
His entire family including his parents, his five sisters Becky, Beth, Racheal, Abby, and Tania, and 15 nieces and nephews have stayed living in Nebraska.
Four years after he moved away, Jacob’s mum Debora received a diagnosis of small cell lung cancer in September 2018.
The diagnosis was devastating for the family, especially as they didn’t have much money and Debora did not have health insurance.
Luckily for the Hendry family, Debora lives very near to a world renowned cancer centre, the University of Nebraska Medical Centre, who decided to treat the mum of six for free.
Jacob’s sister Becky filmed the special moment that Debora opened the door on 24th December and saw her son for the first time since her diagnosis, shouting ‘Oh my god – you lied to me!’, as the two burst into tears and embrace
They were reunited on December 24, 2018, which was when the video was filmed, in the family home in Fremont, Nebraska.
Jacob said: ‘They found a tumor on her lung the size of an egg and immediately placed her on concurrent chemotherapy and targeted radiation therapy.
‘It was the most aggressive therapy possible.
‘Despite the fact that she has no insurance, they decided to treat her for free.
‘We’re all incredibly grateful for their work. It’s the only reason she’s alive today.’
Jacob’s surprise visit home for Christmas last year meant that Debora was surrounded by her family for a holiday full of joy and laughter before Jacob returned to California.
(L-R) Sisters Beth, Abby, Tania, father Tom, mom Debora, Rachael, Jacob, and Becky
Debora continued to fight the cancer bravely, and incredibly, she received the amazing news that she was in remission earlier this year.
Now cancer free, the grateful grandmother is planning for another wonderful Christmas to celebrate with her family and Jacob has booked his flights to return home.
Jacob said: ‘Mom received the news that she was in remission around January of this year.
‘She has been monitored regularly to this day and still shows no signs of cancer!
‘I haven’t seen my family since our reunion at Christmas last year, and I can’t wait to fly home this Saturday to see everyone.’
Jacob and Becky were reunited on December 24, 2018, which was when the video was filmed, in the family home in Fremont, Nebraska