At Christmas time in 2006, Jack was taken to hospital with meningitis. While there, the doctor did a chest X-ray which showed the left lower lobe of his lung was collapsed due to an ongoing undetected chest infection. It was then that the doctors looked through all his medical history and performed a sweat test that came back positive. He was diagnosed in February 07. 

Since then he has had a lot to deal with, he's had numerous hospital visits and treatment but he's trooped through it all and is still smiling!

Update 30th April 2008

Jack is doing so well at the moment; he will be starting home i.v's soon which will be really great. He will be going into hospital for a week on the 2nd of June then coming home for a week on home i.v's then hopefully all his other i.v's will be at home if he is well. His port has been a godsend, just one tiny prick and his i.v's can be administered without any pain or tears and no theatre!

Jack still really loves getting post and especially likes photos of people’s pets and hearing about their lives. Jack’s brother Harry is now older and would like some post to read as well please if possible!

Update 4th April 2008

Jack spent last month in hospital and had a portacath fitted into his chest. This will give the doctors direct access for all future antibiotics. Hopefully this will make a huge difference as Jack has had a lot of problems in the past keeping lines and canulars open. Jack is back home now and is well again! He is currently off school for 2 weeks for half term.

Update 28th February 2008

Jack has had a tough month this month. He has been in hospital for 3 and a half weeks. He had IV antibiotics for a chest infection and also had a portacath fitted for future use. He is still very sore but getting there and has been allowed home today so he's really happy.

Hopefully we can now have a quiet period where he will stay well for a while. He will also be having 3 monthly IV's now to keep things under control.

Thanks to everyone who sent Jack and Harry post this month, we had a tough time in hospital so it really cheered us up. Postpals really has made a difference to our lives, when things aren't going well there is still post to look forward to.

Update 31st January 2008

Jack isn't well and he is going in to hospital for 2 weeks of intravenous antibiotics on Monday and then he will be transferred to London to have a portacath fitted.

He had a lovely Christmas and we would like to express how much all the cards and parcels we received meant to us, especially Jack who loves receiving your post! Thank you!

Update 6th December 2007

Jack is not doing brilliantly at the moment. He has a reoccurring cough; he may have to have regular i.v’s at 3 month intervals starting from January.

He has his annual review in London next week and we’re hoping it goes as well as possible.

We have had a breakthrough with Jack’s nebulizer as he isn’t crying anymore and just accepts it, so that’s a big struggle over each day.

I just want to thank Post Pals; it’s a fab organization that brightens the day of a child who can’t understand why life’s not great some days. Jack knows that whatever treatment or procedure he has to have he will always have Posty to look forward to!

Update 5th November 2007

Jack is well. He recently had 2 weeks in hospital having i.v’s as he has got psudemonious (sp?) He is now taking daily nebulizers and having more antibiotics. He doesn’t like his Neb’s as he has a fear of masks, but we are hoping he will get used to it like he did his other medication. He has lost a lot of weight so he has lost his little pot belly, but all in all he is feeling a lot better after that dreadful cough he had.

Update 16th October 2007

We have just found out Jack has an infection and is being admitted to hospital for 2 weeks on Thursday 18th Oct until 1st Nov for I.V antibiotics. I am sure any extra smiles and tlc would be much appreciated.

Update 5th October 2007

Jack celebrated his 3rd birthday in September. Thanks to everyone who sent him birthday cards and gifts, he had a whale of a time opening them and showing his friends at his birthday party.

He is ok health wise, apart from a bad cough. If it's still lingering by the time he is in clinic (October), there is a good chance he will have to go into the children’s ward for 2 weeks of I.V's. We have stepped up his physio so hopefully this won't happen.  

He is doing well at school and has made a new best friend, which is really lovely to see. He has come out of his shell now he feels well which is fantastic for us to watch. He is a lot more like a normal little boy now; before he was diagnosed he was very withdrawn and quiet.

Post Pal's is a fantastic organization. It has really helped Jack to look forward to each day, which was hard for him before. We would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to send anything to Jack, it really brightens his day, especially when he's feeling poorly. He waits for our Postman everyday to see if there is anything nice for him. He also really enjoys sending the other Post Pals cards and pictures he has made.

Update 23rd August 2007

Since having a Bronchoscopy a few months ago, for which he was anesthetised, Jack has been having nightmares about hospitals and doctors. We have been collecting a doctor’s kit to dress Jack’s dog teddy (Ivy) up in so that he has a companion on his hospital visits!

I just wanted to thank Post Pals and everyone who has sent Jack wonderful cards and parcels! It really brightens his day when the postman arrives with a handful of mail for him. I just love watching him tear open the letters in anticipation and i love seeing his face light up when he finally gets inside the envelopes. Post Pals has made a huge difference.