Jaxson Axel Foxwell, better known as “Jax”, is truly one of a kind! He is a kid that no one can forget after you meet him. He has the BIGGEST personality, and ever since he was a baby, his infectious smile would light up any room.

The first time we laid eyes on him, we knew our lives would never be the same. Jax was born at MUSC here in Charleston, and he’s lived in Park Circle (North Charleston) his entire life — a true Charleston native!

Jax has always been highly intelligent and a quick learner, and also the type of child that if he has his mind set on something, he’s going to do it. He and his two-year-old brother, Brixxton, have been the best of friends – always playing and growing together.

Jax has always been healthy. It wasn’t until July 2023 that we noticed some “bruising” on him. The bruises seemed darker than usual and when asked, Jax said he must have got them playing on the playground at school with his friends, so we chalked it up to that. We know he has no fear, especially while driving his power wheels and four wheelers all around the yard making tracks.

A few weeks later, we received a call from the school guidance counselor regarding his bruising. We immediately made a same-day appointment with his pediatrician.

Thinking that it could be an iron deficiency, based on my personal experience with anemia, we were absolutely crushed when we were instructed to go immediately to the emergency room that day to have his blood drawn and to be told that all the signs looked like leukemia initially. Somehow Jax beat the odds… with his two-year-old brother being a sibling match.

And so our long journey with Jax began, eventually leading to the diagnosis of Severe Aplastic Anemia.

Jax has to get weekly infusions to keep his platelets and blood at a safe level, which are becoming more frequent as his condition worsens. He most recently had a port surgically installed to let the doctors work easier and more efficiently and prepare him for a bone marrow transplant, and is scheduled for another two ports prior to his bone marrow transplant.

Unfortunately, none of this was planned or is inexpensive, however the cost of saving Jax’s life is priceless, so if anyone can donate to COTA for Fearless Jaxsons Journey to help save this boy’s life, you will never forget it! Follow the journey to Jax’s recovery.

Despite all of this, Jax is still smiling. He’s still the same happy-go-lucky kid with that same infectious smile. Trying to slow him down has been a feat.

He’s a fighter and with the help of the community coming together, he will beat this!

The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) helps children and young adults who need a life-saving transplant by providing fundraising assistance and family support. COTA is the nation’s only fundraising organization solely dedicated to raising life-saving dollars in honor of transplant-needy children and young adults. 100% of each contribution made to COTA in honor of our patients helps meet transplant-related expenses. COTA’s services are free to our families, and gifts to COTA are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.