our Story

In late April of 2016 we received the horrible results that our son Jackson had a brain tumor. This was a gut punch to our family, but like any great family (blood or not) they pulled together to help us get through it. Jackson had two brain surgeries and over a month of rehabilitation in the hospital before he was able to walk out under his own power! He then had to go to Florida and have 33 rounds of radiation treatment. During this time we witnessed a lot of miracles, but one of the biggest was how family and friends pulled together to help us to be able to have what we needed to take care of our little boy. That alone has been the driving force of why we started the No Brainer Foundation, to give other families going through the same struggles a helping hand like we received.

In February 2023 we found out that Jackson had another brain tumor, unfortunately a more aggressive one this time. He was diagnosed with a glioblastoma in March 2023 and following another brain surgery he moved to Atlanta, Georgia with his parents to receive 29 rounds of radiation and biweekly immunotherapy IV therapy. He returned home to NC in June 2023 with positive results and spent the next few months being rehabilitated to gain mobility and strength. He continued to receive oral chemotherapy and immunotherapy but was determined in August that the treatment was not working and was stopped. Through a referral from The Brain Tumor Network he was introduced to Dr. Ted Johnson from Augusta, Georgia. In September 2023 Jackson began making trips to Georgia to receive a clinical trial oral immunotherapy and a 5 day dose of chemotherapy. This continued through the holidays and Jackson was able to spend Christmas at home with his parents and family. Treatment continued into 2024 but unfortunately Jackson had a seizure the end of January. Following two additional seizures, it was decided to stop treatment the end of February. He spent the next two weeks at home with his parents, his loving dogs and so many of his family members. Jackson won his battle with Brain Cancer on March 11, 2024 and gained his Heavenly Bat Bag.