FOR JACKSON SMART AND FAMILY

***PLEASE READ***
My nephew is recovering from brain surgery and needs your help!! 

This is a long one. Bear with me.
****PLEASE READ****
It is surreal how drastically life can change in one moment. For the record, my sister Sarah was not exactly excited about my doing this for her, but I believe and know that she truly needs it. Sarah would never ask for help out of fear of burdening others. Little does she know that people think the world of her and her family and would be happy to help if they could.
My oldest nephew Jackson was having severe migraines, nausea, vomiting and vision disturbances.  When medication did not work, an MRI was done of his brain. On that MRI a 5.5cm brain tumor was identified in his 4th ventricle adjacent to the cerebellum and brainstem. I can only imagine how Jackson, my sister, and Jackson’s dad felt when they were told. This meant brain surgery. This was Jackson's reality. It had to come out, and there was nothing anybody could do. He was immediately referred to a neurosurgeon for a consultation to plan for tumor resection/removal.
Surgery day quickly came. Jackson was strong and braver than I would be if I were in his shoes. I wish I could have been in his shoes on that day instead of him. There was about a 30% chance this tumor could be a benign glial cell tumor. So the opposite was also true, that there was a 60% chance this tumor could be a malignant glial cell tumor.  This would mean chemo and radiation and possibly another brain/spinal surgery if needed. Yet, we could not even think about this. One day, one moment, one second at a time is how we learn to live in these types of situations. We all had to stay positive and strong for Jackson. Getting through brain surgery was an immediate concern. His brain surgery took about 5 hours. Everyone always says, "the waiting is the hardest part." Not a lie.
They did not update us on his progress post surgery until almost an hour after they said they would. He was transferred after surgery to the pediatric intensive care unit, where a neurosurgeon finally talked with the family. They said they weren’t sure why, but Jackson was not waking up after the surgery/anesthesia as they expected. Everyone's heart stopped in confusion and disbelief. So, he was intubated, where a machine was helping him breathe, and he was sedated to stay safe through the night. The whole room of family fell silent. I heard the devastation. I felt it. This was everyone’s worst fear, that he wouldn’t wake up. My heart sank. I felt like I was rising and falling at once. I did not know where I was for a minute and if that was real life. Tears made their way onto the cheeks of everyone in the room. We all cried, a lot. my NEPHEW!  My SISTER! I looked at her. I cried harder. That was her baby they were talking about! I cannot begin to describe the grief, sadness, and fear I saw on my sister and Jackson’s dad. The love, the life, their hearts, ripped out of them in one moment. That moment was hell.
The next day, they extubated Jackson because he was breathing on his own, thank goodness, and he soon moved out of the intensive care unit. Everybody was finally able to exhale the breath they were holding.
In the first week after his brain surgery, Jackson did little more than rest most of the day, barely uttering words. But each day he attempted, and still attempts and succeeds at new things. New things that were old things, done by habit, that he must relearn. From swallowing to standing upright to walking (with assistance) and tying his own shoes, every step is positive. Every baby step is tremendous and extremely important. Every baby step in the right direction is the most important thing in the world. We cheer him on daily like he's competing in the Olympics, but this is his life. He is so strong! He is my hero.
We were told that Jackson was not progressing as expected after surgery due to a challenge called cerebellar affective syndrome. This was described as a complication that could happen following brain surgery/trauma. Some of the things this involves are; decreased inhibition with inappropriate behavior with emotional outbursts, decreased executive function, spatial awareness, language skill set, personality changes, and more. It has been extremely hard to witness Jackson struggle with the frustrations of not being able to do the things he used to do. Life is so unfair sometimes. 
Sarah was told in the beginning that the neurosurgeon expects Jackson will make a full recovery. We are still holding on to this hope and will never give that up! Nobody knows the exact extent of the effects Jackson could have acquired from brain surgery because everyone is different. There is a lot of therapy and hard work that still needs to be done. Beginning on the 30th of May, Jackson started a rigorous month-long in-patient therapy/rehabilitation program to help him relearn how to do activities of daily living that most people take for granted. Jackson has a huge heart, with a whole lot of strength and determination! He tries his hardest every day, and it is apparent how hard he works by his progress. To show this kids heart, one day he got upset and cried because his mom was there at the hospital. He felt bad she was at the hospital with him instead of at home caring for his little brothers. That heart wows me. He is so humble.
He will continue to need ongoing positivity, prayers and financial support even after he gets to go home. My sister thought her short term disability would cover this situation, but it does not because it is not her health issue, it is Jackson's.  Her coworkers have donated time to help this but she will be going two weeks without pay.  Our family has seen some amazing support and comfort and kindness from people who know what is going on and we appreciate it all! As I said, my sister would NEVER ask for this herself. She is one of the hardest working people I know and nobody would deserve a little extra help more than her at this time. Her strength and love as a mother permeate into everything she does. Along with everything else, she also has a daughter and two small sons at home. When she is not at the hospital she is caring for them.
Anything helps
Thank you so much in advance, and Love to you all!


All the (financial) things:
-specialty pediatric neurosurgeon visits
-children's emergency room visit
-7 head MRI's
-3 spine MRI's
-Sarah being out of work for 2+ weeks to be at the hospital with Jackson
-1 CT 
-Jackson being an In-patient at the hospital since May 19th-current
-30-day In-patient therapy program with physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, neuropsychology, recreational therapy, art therapy
-hospital's brain surgery bill
-neuro surgeon's brain surgery bill 
-anesthesiologist bill
-pathology (we were told the tumor was almost 100% likely benign!:)  )
-modification to my sister's house to be safer for when Jackson returns home
-out-patient therapy programs to continue his speech therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy after leaving the hospital