“A TRIBUTE TO 2 SPECIAL MOMS FOR MOTHER’S DAY
As I look forward to Mother’s Day, two special moms come to mind — Autumn Fennell and Wendy Fachon. Each had to hear the words no mother wants to hear: “Your son has brain cancer.” Each has had to watch her son struggle through its cruelty. For Autumn, the ordeal began 13 years ago when her son was 2. For Wendy, the ordeal began last year when her son was 19.
Autumn and I met in 2012 when we brought our literacy and outreach program to Disney Elementary in Anaheim, CA. When I returned to the office, an email from Autumn told me that her son Jack, a 10-year-old fourth grader, “had always kept his medical issues private,” that he was “scared that he would have absolutely no friends if everyone knew he was ‘different.’” When Jack told his mom about my sharing my late son David’s story, The Jester Has Lost His Jingle, at his school, he said he felt “horrible and sad” for me.
Jack told his mom that keeping his secret was “exhausting” and he didn’t want to keep it private any longer. I suggested that the Disney Dragons would like to hold our Jester Read-A-Thon in his honor. They agreed, and when Jack was recognized at the final assembly as a ‘warrior’ in his fight against cancer, many fellow students approached him to say how proud they were of him. “It was AMAZING!! It was as though a giant weight was lifted from him,” Autumn said.
Today, Jack is finishing up his first year of high school at the top of his class, coping with whatever challenges come his way with optimism and determination.
Wendy and I have never met, but we have talked at length by phone and email. As a high school student, Neil participated in a summer project called the Student Leadership Training Program. Both the SLTP and The Jester sprung into the world about the same time and The Jester, it became a core component of its program.
Neil became a strong advocate for The Jester, realizing how much its message of hope and laughter could help ill kids. He read the book to elementary students, began Jester read-a-thons in his hometown of East Greenwich, RI, and urged other students to join him in getting The Jester to hospitalized children.
In February, after fighting with the FDA to get permission for a not-yet approved treatment for his rare, inoperable brain stem tumor, Neil passed away. On May 8, he would have celebrated his 21st birthday. He asked that donations in his memory be made to The Jester & Pharley Phund to bring Jester books and dolls to seriously ill children. His mom is supporting “Right to Try” legislation that prevents the government from denying those diagnosed with terminal illness access to experimental drug treatments.
This year, please consider a donation to The Jester & Pharley Phund when you honor your mom or another on Mother’s Day. Every $10 donation will give a copy of The Jester Has Lost His Jingle to a child with cancer.
Think of moms like Autumn and Wendy and me whose courageous children were inspired by The Jester – and just how many more young lives it can touch.
It has been so rewarding for us to help so many children with cancer. We are especially honored to help these children with donations made in honor of moms and other loved ones on Mother’s Day.”
Click here to learn more about The Jester and Pharley Phund.