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here is the article that made the front page of the Orillia Packet and Times. I kept a copy
Orillia boy battles brain tumour
Daniel Birch
Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 08:00
Local News - Christopher Jackson is your typical 10-year-old kid. He’s plays video games, practises guitar, and loves comedian Adam Sandler.
But the Grade 5 Hillcrest elementary school student has more on his hands than most 10-year-olds.
At the moment, he’s two weeks into a rigorous six-week course of chemotherapy and radiation to battle an inoperable brain tumour.
Christopher’s mother, Sherry Blevins, said her son hasn’t been well since February, though more serious signs of his condition were only revealed near the end of April.
He suffered from a loss of appetite, was lethargic at times, and his colouring seemed off, Blevins said.
“The doctors thought maybe he had vertigo.”
Near the end of April, Christopher visited an ophthalmologist who ordered an MRI scan in Barrie.
“We went down a couple hours later that night on the Friday, and the MRI picked it up,” Blevins said, adding that Christopher was off to Toronto the next day to begin the treatment process.
Blevins said that the demanding radiation and chemotherapy schedule, along with medication, has reaped some positive results.
“Some of the things have cleared up, like double vision. That was a big problem before.”
The vision difficulties resulted because the tumour would swell and put pressure on Christopher’s optical nerve.
Further improvement won’t be known until the treatments are completed, she said.
“It’s just sort of a waiting game right now, going through the treatment process.”
Christopher and his family have been staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Toronto much of the time since the end of April, though they do return to Orillia on weekends when Christopher isn’t undergoing treatment.
A Web site(www.christopherforlife.com) has been created by Christopher’s father, who is also named Chris. The site was donated by Christopher’s grandfather, Dave Jackson.
“People can message Christopher and he can message them back,” Blevins said. “The more people that connect with him—it just really brings his spirits up.”
Christopher’s tumour presents other challenges besides the obvious physical battle the youngster is fighting. The three-bedroom apartment that Blevins lives in will not be suitable for Christopher because he sometimes requires a wheelchair.
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