This weekend, we celebrated a truly special milestone for our sweet Jack: his 1-year “Liverversary” and his 3rd birthday! It was a Ninja Turtle-themed party filled with family, friends, and so many reasons to celebrate how far Jack has come.
The highlight of the day was celebrating with our loved ones—those who have supported Jack and cheered him on every step of the way. The party was complete with a life-sized Ninja Turtle piñata that brought so much excitement to the kids (and adults!). We had pizza (a true Ninja Turtle classic) and enjoyed an amazing, two-layer Ninja Turtle dream cake, generously donated by *Icing Smiles* and beautifully crafted by local Arizona baker Yvette Andrade. It was as delicious as it was beautiful!
Jack also proudly displayed his *Beads of Courage*, a powerful reminder of everything he’s overcome this past year. Each bead tells part of his story—black for all the pokes, white for chemo treatments, and yellow for the many days spent admitted to the hospital, to name a few. Seeing the strands of beads reminds us of Jack’s strength and resilience, and how far he’s come since his liver transplant last year.
This milestone is a big deal, as is his entire journey over the past year. In 2024, Jack:
– Completed chemo.
– Finished a six-month hospital stay in Cincinnati.
– Moved back home to Arizona.
– Overcame two fractured bones.
– Started thriving with the help of occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), and feeding therapy
Through it all, Jack’s big personality has shined brighter than ever. He’s always talking up a storm, cracking jokes, and being the silliest little guy in the room. He’s still working hard to fully recover, but his new liver is happy, and so is he! We’re grateful that he’s on a great path, with check-ups every three months in Cincinnati to stay on track.
Looking ahead, Jack is gearing up for an exciting new adventure—he’ll be starting preschool in January! His therapists and nurses have been a big part of his journey, and he loves seeing them at the hospital. They’ve helped him develop his new favorite foods including cupcakes (mostly the icing!), chicken nuggets, and Doritos. They also are assisting him with building up his strength – he’s walking up a storm, climbing and working on his balance and walking up steps. Outside of therapy, you’ll often find him chasing his little sister around, playing “doctor” with his dog Zoey, whipping up creations in his toy kitchen, or cuddled up watching movies (his current favorite is *The Grinch*). And, of course, he loves running around the park and being a crazy toddler.
This weekend wasn’t just a celebration of Jack’s milestones; it was a celebration of his life, resilience, and the people who mean the most to us. We’re so thankful for everyone who continues to cheer on Jack—your love and encouragement make every step of this journey brighter.
Here’s to many more milestones, adventures, and pizza (and cupcake!) parties ahead for our little superhero. Cowabunga!
