Jack Norman

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting. Jack's three aunts--Leslie, Linda, and Jennifer--will do their best to keep this site updated. ~Leslie

After some weeks of back and neck pain starting around February, Jack experienced some weakness and pain in his left arm. Jordene took him to urgent care and, after reviewing an x-ray of Jack's neck, the nurse was concerned enough that she sent them to Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids to have more tests done. His C7 vertebrae was damaged and there was a mass there as well. The neurosurgeon had told them there was cancer involved by what he saw on the x-ray. Jack was admitted and surgery scheduled for the next day, Thursday, April 4, to replace the vertebrae and remove the mass and have it biopsied.

The surgery went well, but the pathologists and doctors were a bit puzzled by what they were seeing and results they were getting. Jack would have more tests including a PET scan that following Tuesday, April 9. The PET scan showed Stage IV cancer in his sternum. This means the cancer has metastasized and spread, and this is not the news we wanted to hear. Jack felt good, was recovering nicely from his surgery, and sent home on Wednesday, April 10. His incision (front of his neck) looks good and is healing nicely and he will wear a neck brace for three months. There are additional tests and discussions to be had regarding treatment, and that can't start until he recovers from his surgery. The family is considering Gillette Children's Hospital and perhaps Mayo as potential resources for opinions and care.