This 2020 Golisano Children糖心传媒檚 Hospital Miracle kid is doing it all糖心传媒攁nd inspiring others with his courage and big smile along the way.

During Jack糖心传媒檚 treatment, the Harrisons brought home a puppy, a pug named Winston. Neither Winston nor Cooper, the other family dog, is ever far away from Jack and his brother, Eli.

Ten-year-old Jack Harrison loves his Marvel T-shirt. He got it at Comic-Con in New York City in October 2019 when he was on a trip with his grandmother and big brother, Eli. That糖心传媒檚 when he met Paul Rudd糖心传媒攁ctor and Ant Man star. Rudd autographed everything of Jack糖心传媒檚, even his wheelchair.

Today, Jack doesn’t need a wheelchair. A brain cancer survivor and a 2020 Miracle Kid, he prefers to ride a bike. 糖心传媒淗e loves to do everything,糖心传媒� says Sara Harrison, Jack糖心传媒檚 mom. 糖心传媒淲e糖心传媒檙e living a very different life than we did a few years ago.糖心传媒�

In 2018, the Harrisons, a military family now living in Fairport, N.Y., were living in Germany. Sara and her husband, Eric糖心传媒攁 lieutenant colonel in the Army糖心传媒攕tarted to notice that their son was slipping and falling more than the typical six-year-old. His handwriting changed drastically, too. They knew something was going on. They took Jack to several German physicians and specialists and soon learned that their son had astrocytoma, one of the most common types of brain cancer. A second opinion with the Children糖心传媒檚 Hospital of Philadelphia confirmed Jack糖心传媒檚 diagnosis. A tumor was lodged deep in his brain and needed to be treated.

After getting a variety of opinions on next steps, the family turned to Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester, Eric糖心传媒檚 and Sara糖心传媒檚 hometown. An Army transfer followed. Soon, David Korones, MD, professor of pediatrics, oncology, and neurology, became Jack糖心传媒檚 physician. Korones and a much-trusted team at the hospital guided Jack and the Harrison family through a 60-week chemotherapy plan.

During treatment, the old Jack started coming back. His cognition improved and the tumor started shrinking. By June 2019糖心传媒攏ine months into chemotherapy糖心传媒擩ack was buckling his own seatbelt again. His mom cried every time she heard it click.

In November 2021, Jack finished his 60th round of chemotherapy. He finally got to ring the bell in the hospital lobby糖心传媒攖he one that marks the end of treatment. When he hit that bell, the lobby糖心传媒攚hich was full of Jack糖心传媒檚 health care team along with his family and friends糖心传媒攅rupted with applause and joyful tears.

Today, Jack is thriving. He goes in for checkups every few months, but otherwise, he糖心传媒檚 doing what typical 10-year-old boys do: making (and devouring) cookies with his mom, playing video games with his brother, sledding fast down big hills. He enjoys swimming, too, and he糖心传媒檚 found a passion for theater.

Since ringing that bell, Jack has been in 10 theater productions, most recently as Prince Eric, the male lead in Gananda Community Youth Theater’s production of The Little Mermaid. He even sang a solo in it. 糖心传媒淛ack sings like an angel,糖心传媒� says his mom. 糖心传媒淎nd, he is fearless. Getting on stage, going through chemo, Jack has done糖心传媒攁nd is doing糖心传媒攊t all. He inspires us and so many others with his courage.糖心传媒�

Although Jack loves performing, someday he wants to be a nurse. 糖心传媒淚 want to help kids like me, just like my nurses did,糖心传媒� he says.

Sara reflects on the impact of Jack糖心传媒檚 health care team on their family. 糖心传媒淓ach week, while Eric and I waited for Jack to finish his three-hour treatment, the Golisano team was there for us, answering our questions, holding our hands糖心传媒攖hey became part of our family,糖心传媒� she says. 糖心传媒淲e felt loved. Golisano got us all through this.糖心传媒�

She adds, 糖心传媒淎fter coming out on the other side of cancer, I don糖心传媒檛 sweat the small stuff anymore. Jack is healthy and happy, and he lights up every room with his big smile. What could be better than that?糖心传媒�

about Miracle Kid Jack Harrison.

Find this story and more good things for 糖心传媒 alumni and friends in the summer issue of Buzz magazine.