For almost every day of the three years of his life, Jack Rollins has been more than just a beautiful, super hero-infatuated child. He’s also been one of the healthiest kids around.

 

“He’s never been sick his entire life. He’s never been hospitalized, taken an antibiotic or anything; he’s just always been healthy,” said Jack’s mother Brooke Rollins.

 

That changed suddenly around Christmas this past year. Prior to the holiday, Jack Rollins was running a low grade fever and began acting lethargic. Jack was taken in for testing and, initially, they were trying to rule out mono.

 

“They checked his spleen and it felt enlarged,” Brooke, who works at United Hospital Center, said. “That’s a sign of mono and it was to be expected so that’s the direction we took.”

 

Any signs of improvement faded away on Christmas day.

 

“He just wasn’t acting right. We ended up taking him back to the doctors and checked the spleen again. It wasn’t enlarged,” said Brooke, who has lived in Bridgeport for the last seven years. “The problem was that during the examination she felt something else.”

 

From there, an ultrasound at United Hospital Center produced something the family couldn’t imagine. On the images produced was a 10 centimeter mass on his abdomen.

 

“We took him to Ruby. The day after the ultrasound, Dec. 27, he was admitted to Ruby,” said Brooke.

 

Three days later – Dec. 30 – Brooke and her husband Ryan learned that their son had Neuroblastoma. In layman’s terms, it is cancer that forms in nerve tissue and generally strikes children age five or younger. Initially, they were told that the cancer was Stage 3, but Brooke said a recent scan showed another small spot near his spinal region.

 

“We’ve been told it is stage 4,” said Brooke. “The other tumor in his abdomen got big enough that you could see his stomach start protruding.”

 

The goal, Brooke said, said is to shrink the tumors and eventually have them surgically removed. Right now, the Bridgeport three-year-old with the beautiful blue eyes and blonde hair is getting chemo every two weeks.

 

“He will get six rounds of chemo and he will have surgery on March 28,” said Brooke.

 

The surgery will be done at Ruby Memorial in Morgantown. Jack will also lose his adrenal gland and also one of his kidneys along with the mass being removed that Jack said his doctor has turned “a baseball into a golf ball.” Following surgery, additional chemotherapy will be done at Ruby.

 

As part of the plan to get Jack back to good health, he’ll be heading to Pittsburgh shortly after surgery to get a stem cell transplant. The good news is that they’ll be using Jack’s own stem cells.

 

“They didn’t see (Neuroblastoma) in his stem cell,” said Brooke. “We were very fortunate for that. After that transplant, it will take a month to start building itself back.”

 

That’s followed by additional therapies and radiation – six rounds in fact.

 

“We’ll be in Pittsburgh once a month for a week at a time. Those treatments run like chemo,” Brooke said. “We’re doing a procedure there that’s highly recommended to prevent this from returning.”

 

And that’s the hope. Brooke said that she’s been getting plenty of help from so many others and with her husband Ryan working away in Georgia, it’s been welcome.

 

“We’ve just been in a bubble wit this whole thing, but having your friends, family and even people you don’t know help out has been huge. It puts a smile on your face when it’s hard to smile,” said Brooke. “It’s been overwhelming and I’m so grateful for Facebook because that’s been huge in helping spread the message about Jack and to help education people on Neuroblastoma.”

 

More help is coming today. In fact, the community has rallied behind the little man as part of a group known as “Team Jack.” Starting at 9 a.m. and running until 2 p.m. at Days Inn in Clarksburg, a vendor craft type show will be held with all proceeds from the show going to the Rollins family.

 

Jamie Roy is a co-worker with Brooke at UHC. She’s organizing the event.

 

Roy contacted Days Inn and the local chain donated a room that will allow 30 vendors to set up at the event. Each vendor will pay $30 for a table, which will go to the family.

 

“I fell in love with Jack the first time I saw him. He’s just a beautiful child,” said Roy. “You always want to help whenever you can, but when you know someone it really hits home and makes you try to do all that you can. I’m glad to help and the biggest question those of us have when it comes to Jack is 'are we doing enough' so we’re going to keep helping whenever we can.”

 

Roy is familiar with working shows of this nature and was thrilled to do something to help her friend and colleague. She said Pampered Chef, 31, crafters, individuals selling baked goods and wood working artisans will be on hand along with others. There will be a 50/50 drawing and Jack’s grandmother will be selling “Team Jack” wrist bands for $5, along with t-shirts and hair bows that will also be for sale. Donations will also be taken at the door and several businesses have donated items to be raffled off.

 

And along with the vendors, there will be some special friends of Jack’s on hand. Batman, Ironman and Mr. Incredible will all be on hand for youngsters to visit with and even take pictures with. Brooke said, unfortunately, due to his current condition, Jack won’t be there, but is taking the advice of his superhero friends, particularly Batman.

 

Jack said Batman has told him that “tough things make you stronger.” He told that during a recent visit with Jack.

 

“He’s very much into super heroes and he takes his costumes and pajamas and dresses like a super hero,” said Brooke. “He thinks he’s Batman.”

 

Bridgeport’s newest super hero likes to see pictures posted to his Facebook Page, which can be accessed below. And Brooke said Jack and her entire family appreciate everything that’s been done so far.

 

“All the prayers have been so important and the encouragement,” said Rollins. “I know that I used to turn my head when the St. Jude commercials would come on because I didn’t want to know. Now, I feel it’s important to let people know about this disease and it’s much more common than most people realize.

 

“We’re hoping for the best for Jack because after someone spends five minutes with him, they just love him,” said Brooke. “He’s so smart and lovable. He’s like a little adult who’s become such a good patient. He never fights the doctors. He just wants to get better and we want him to get better too.”

 

The community is hoping for the best as well. Many individuals post frequently to the “Prayers for Jack Rollins” Facebook page that can be found by clicking HERE. There is also a Facebook page for a Jack Rollins 5K later this month in Morgantown (click HERE) and one for today’s vendor event (click HERE).

 

To donate on the "Give It Forward" page and help defer the expenses the Rollins' family is facing, please click HERE.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo is of Jack Rollins near Christmas this past year, while in the middle photo, Jack poses with his friend Superman as he dons his favorite super hero's costume. In the bottom photo, Batman - A.K.A. Jack Rollins - patrols the halls of the hospital to make sure everyone is doing fine. Photos provided via Facebook courtesy of Brooke Rollins.