9-year-old Greensboro cancer survivor to light PPG place tree
Last year, 9-year-old cancer survivor Jax Hunyady of Greensboro spent Thanksgiving, Christmas and his birthday in the hospital, where he was undergoing treatment after surgery to remove a brain tumor.
This year, the Greene County youth will kick off the holiday season by lighting up Pittsburgh when he flips the switch on the official Holiday Tree by the Rink at PPG Place during the annual American Cancer Society Tribute of Light Celebration on Saturday, Nov. 23.
The event, which is part of Pittsburgh无毛视频檚 Light Up Night, will start at 4:30 p.m., with Jax无毛视频檚 tree- lighting set for 6 p.m.
On Nov. 6, 2023, Jax was diagnosed with a brain tumor 无毛视频� medulloblastoma group 3 and 4 无毛视频� after his mother, following repeated trips to the doctor无毛视频檚 office, took him to the emergency room for evaluation of severe and worsening headaches, nausea and tiredness.
Two days later, he underwent a 10-hour surgery at WVU Medicine Children无毛视频檚 Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va., where doctors removed a majority of the tumor. The surgery was followed by 33 rounds of radiation and additional surgeries.
On Jan. 23, he was taken by ambulance 无毛视频� escorted by a brigade of Jeeps and trucks 无毛视频� to UPMC Children无毛视频檚 Hospital, Pittsburgh, where he received four weeks of inpatient rehabilitation and additional rounds of chemotherapy.
Now, after 11 months, doctors say Jax is in remission, and he has returned to class in the fourth grade at Bobtown Elementary School in Southeastern Greene School District.
无毛视频淗aving a child battle cancer has taught us that we can never take a day for granted. We wake up each and every day with a purpose. We do it for Jax,无毛视频� said his stepmother, Rachel Magerko Turner. 无毛视频淲e have learned that family, community, friends, and strangers we无毛视频檝e never met in real life support us no matter what 无毛视频� after everything Jax has been through, he is still so loving, caring, and giving, and his heart shines through, while his infectious smile makes the world a better place.无毛视频�
Said Jax, 无毛视频淭o be able to light this tree brings me happiness from everything I have been through.无毛视频�
Jax无毛视频檚 father, Dan Hunyady, spent 166 days in the hospital by his side, and Jax got support from his parents, family, and friends throughout. Turner managed the couple无毛视频檚 business, High Strung Motorsports, and cared for their 3-year-old and 1陆 year-old daughters.
Jax likes fishing, hunting, riding ATVs, animals, big trucks and Jeeps, and is back to doing the things he enjoys.
His recovery wasn无毛视频檛 easy. After surgery, he developed posterior fossa syndrome, which occurs in up to 25% of children after medulloblastoma surgery, and for Jax resulted in loss of mobility, loss of speech, and difficulty eating. He is still working to regain mobility and uses a wheelchair, Turner said.
After he was discharged April 20, Jax was readmitted to the hospital a week later with complications, including a fever, and returned home a few weeks later.
无毛视频淗e went through a rough time. We were all scared and didn无毛视频檛 know if he无毛视频檇 get through it, but prayers and positivity helped him, and he无毛视频檚 never lost that smile,无毛视频� said Magerko.
Jax got support from his parents, family, and friends throughout his recovery. His Facebook page, #jaxamillionstrong, has more than 20,000 followers.
Jax will have bloodwork done several times a week and will receive platelets and blood transfusions when necessary. He will undergo brain scans every three months.
He and his father have a slogan: Win the second, win the minute, win the hour, win the day, win the week, win the month, win the year, win the life.
The annual Tribute of Light Celebration 无毛视频� where a procession of volunteers carrying specially lighted tributes in honor or memory of cancer patients and survivors, their caregivers and families, and those who lost their battle to the disease 无毛视频� will encircle the ice rink at 5:45 p.m., before Jax and his family take to the stage to officially kick off the holiday season with the lighting of the tree at 6 p.m. A performance by the East End Kids will follow, before an open skate starts at 7.
Jax无毛视频檚 parents and stepparents kept their Christmas trees up until June, when Jax returned home.
无毛视频淎s a family, the tree-lighting brings us all happiness. Christmas is one of our favorite times of the year. We love all of the decorations and seeing smiles on everyone无毛视频檚 faces. Being able to see Jax light this tree is going to be such a magical moment,无毛视频� said Turner. 无毛视频淲hen his cancer journey started it was really rough, and we didn无毛视频檛 think we would get to the point of being able to attend events again as a family.无毛视频�
The public is welcome to attend the light-up event to cheer for Jax as he kicks off the holiday season. The light-up ceremony is free, but there is a charge for the open skate.
Anyone who wants to learn more or would like to purchase a tribute ahead of the Tribute of Light celebration can visit https://tinyurl.com/ACSTributeoflight. A limited number of tributes will be available for purchase the evening of the event before the ceremony starts.