Jackson Palmer loves to play video games, board games and make-believe with his 6-year-old sister. He’s a water bug and even learned to water ski last summer. He enjoys most things 8-year-old boys are into, but this Fishers boy’s life is anything but typical.
He’s spent much of the last three years battling a very rare cancer called desmoplastic small round cell tumor. He’s all too familiar with chemotherapy and its nasty side effects. He’s seen more hospital rooms than any child his age should.
While there have been fun-filled family trips to Florida and even a Make-a-Wish Foundation trip to Legoland, Sea World and the San Diego Zoo, there have also been extended hospital stays, surgeries, radiation and drug therapy.
It’s been a draining journey, but there have been some bright spots along the way. One happened Saturday, Jan. 10, when a tremendous support effort reminded the Palmers how many friends they have around Fishers.
It all started when Jackie Jackson, who works at IU School of Medicine and has a son in Jackson’s Cub Scout pack, stopped in to visit Jackson. She felt pressed to do something for the Palmer family.
She enlisted the help of Cub Scout Pack 108 and began organizing a spaghetti dinner. They decided to host the event at their meeting location at Fishers United Methodist Church. As more people in the community found out about Jackson’s situation, the simple event expanded to include a silent online auction and ticket/donation stations at local Marsh stores. Many Fishers businesses generously offered to donate goods or services for the auction and dinner. The auction included items such as an autographed John Mellencamp guitar, Pacers tickets and a laptop.
Classmates and staff at Hoosier Road Elementary, volunteers from the Lawrence Township Citizens Council and many others offered their helping hands for the fundraising effort. Food and paper goods were provided by Marsh, Meijer, Maggiano's, Sahm's, Paradise Bakery and Target.
“We’ve been very fortunate to have all this support,” said Paul Palmer, Jackson’s father. He and his wife, Alison, were overwhelmed by the steady flow of friends and neighbors attending the spaghetti dinner.
About 1,000 people were served at the dinner, while 200 volunteers sold tickets, secured donations, handed out flyers and attended to other tasks. Because everything was donated, 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the Palmer family for medical expenses.
On February 7th, the new Supercuts at 11765 is sponsoring another benefit for the Palmer family. Stop in between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. for a free haircut with donation of any amount to the Jackson Palmer Fund.
To find out more about Jackson, visit his Caring Bridge site www.caringbridge.org/visit/jacksonpalmer.
If you would like to support the Palmer family, checks should be mailed to:
Jackson Palmer Donation Fund
11261 Falling Water Way
Fishers, IN 46037.
The Palmer Family can also be contact by email at paulrpalmer@comcast.net.
