Help Jackson Daniel

Jackson Daniel Cariello, you changed everything…

I still remember how excited I was when my little brother told me I was going to be an aunt. That’s right, Aunt Michele!!! I was immediately in love with this baby that my amazing sister-in-law was growing. Each week, I waited for her update to let me know that he was now the size of a cucumber, a coconut, and a Tickle Me Elmo.

On July 10, 2023, after a very long and difficult delivery, Jackson Daniel Cariello was born. His name not only paid tribute to my late father, but Jackson Daniel was born on my late father’s birthday. It seemed he was hand-picked and sent to us with love. His bruised little head, full of red hair, and his beautiful blue eyes immediately caught everyone’s attention. As the months passed, I fell more and more in love with Jackson, especially our sleepovers full of smiles and giggles.

On December 1st, I received the call that Jackson was in the hospital. My sister-in-law noticed something very unusual in Jackson’s beautiful blue eyes. His eyes were jumping up and down. After lots of tests and tears, Jackson was diagnosed with encephalomalacia.

Encephalomalacia is one of the most serious types of brain damage imaginable. Jackson had lost a significant amount of his brain. His condition was irreversible. The damage was permanent. Our hearts were broken. What would this mean? We all started researching and learning as much as we could. While we learned all about this condition, Jackson kept smiling, and his laugh made our lives full. But then one day his smiles disappeared, and his laugh went silent. Things that made him happy made him cry. He didn’t sleep, and his appetite was different. In fact, everything about Jackson was different. What happened to our happy little man? Then, just when we didn’t think it could get worse, Jackson started having seizures. Painful, intense full-body spasms that caused his whole body to contract over and over again multiple times a day. We were all helpless. Our happy little man became more and more inconsolable each day.

Finally, after another hospital stay, Jackson received a diagnosis. He was diagnosed with Infantile Spasms a rare type of seizure that typical seizure medications don’t typically treat. Jackson began his high-dose steroid treatment in the hospital. The days passed, and the full-body spasms continued. All we could do was wait and pray. After 3 days of treatment, we saw some improvement. Happy to finally have a diagnosis and relieved to see that the treatment seemed to be working, our whole family took a deep breath.

This relief was short-lived. We then learned that Jackson’s condition will require constant medical treatment, therapies, and specialized care for his whole life. Each day I asked how can I help and today I decided how I can help. 

I am starting this page in hopes of helping Richard, and Kerri Cariello begin to dig themselves out from under all of the medical bills—$60,000 (and rising)—and provide some relief for the unimaginable cost of Jackson’s ongoing care. Please consider helping Jackson and his family.

Thank you, Jackson’s Aunt Michele.