On the morning of April 22, 2011, Jack Hoffman, a perfectly normal little five-year-old boy from Atkinson, Nebraska, was taken to the West Holt Memorial Hospital in Atkinson because he wouldn’t answer his parent’s questions at the breakfast table. While Jack was in the emergency room at the hospital he experienced a seizure that lasted thirty minutes. Jack was then taken to Norfolk by ambulance, where he met a helicopter, and was flown to Children’s Hospital Omaha, there he underwent an MRI. The results of that test showed a lesion on the left temporal lobe of his brain. Jack began treatment and during later tests it was revealed that Jack was suffering from a brain tumor.
Jack had surgery on May 20, 2011, to remove his tumor. Unfortunately, this surgery was unsuccessful and only a small portion of the tumor was removed; the rest was determined to be inoperable. Jack was diagnosed with a malignant low-grade glioma tumor and secondary epilepsy, which was caused by the presence of the tumor. Jack continued to have frequent seizures, and, at times, he would have up to ten a day.
Eventually, Jack and his family visited the specialists at Children’s Hospital Boston and met with a pediatric neurosurgeon who believed she would be able to remove the tumor. Jack had another surgery in October of 2011 and, at that time, approximately 95% of the tumor was removed. Jack’s family was hopeful that the remaining tumor would not continue to grow. He had another MRI in April of 2012, and, unfortunately, the tumor had grown. Jack was then placed on chemotherapy treatment, which he is still on. He has another MRI scheduled for October 24, 2012. In the meantime, Jack has started 1st grade this year and is enjoying it.
Team Jack started when a family friend of the Hoffman’s, who also has had a family member diagnosed with cancer, ordered wristbands for the Hoffman’s that read “Team Jack-Pray,” and the name stuck. Team Jack’s original goals were simply to get as many people praying for Jack as possible. Team Jack’s new mission is to create awareness for pediatric brain cancer and to raise money for pediatric brain cancer research. Team Jack teamed up with CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, which is a non-profit organization that raises money for cancer research. Team Jack was allowed to set up a special fund, the Team Jack Legacy Fund, and all money raised is used to fund research for pediatric brain cancer. To help raise money, the Hoffman’s participated in the Omaha CureSearch for Children’s Cancer Walk in June of 2012. Team Jack is most famously known for the t-shirts they have been selling. They read “Team Jack, Fighting for a Victory in the Battle Against Pediatric Brain Cancer,” and can be purchased at huskerheadquarters.com. Husker Headquarters began selling the Team Jack t-shirts to help support the “Team Jack Out” at the September 29 game. People can also contribute to Team Jack by visiting teamjack.curesearch.org and following the link there that allows people to donate.
Before Jack’s second brain surgery, in October of 2011, his parents, Andy and Bri, contacted the University of Nebraska to see if Jack could get a picture with Husker running back Rex Burkhead. Keith Zimmer, the Associate Athletic Director, went above and beyond the Hoffman’s request. He invited Jack and his family to Lincoln to tour the stadium and locker room. Jack also got to eat lunch with Rex Burkhead. The summer and fall of 2011 were very difficult times for Jack and his family, as they were focused on beating the cancer.
Rex became a source of hope for Jack and Jack now considers Rex to be his best friend. Jack loves to watch Rex play football, and gets really excited when he sees Rex wearing a Team Jack-Pray wristband. When Burkhead graduates from the University of Nebraska in the spring of 2013, his relationship with Jack will continue because Rex received the Rare Disease Champion Award that is presented by Uplifting Athletes. In fact, Nebraska now has its own chapter of Uplifting Athletes, and the players have chosen pediatric brain cancer as their charity to support.
Last football season, during the Nebraska and Ohio State football game, ABC announcers mentioned Rex’s support of Jack, and the entire Husker Nation was made aware of Team Jack, so the cause spread all across the United States. Jack’s cousin started a Facebook page, Team Jack, and Husker fans joined in droves to help raise awareness about pediatric brain cancer research and the need for more funding for research. The Hoffman’s said, “We owe a lot of thanks to Rex Burkhead, who wore a ‘Team Jack-Pray’ wristband last season and this season.”
Jack and his friend Isaiah Casillas stole audience members’ hearts on the night of the Nebraska-Wisconsin homecoming game as Rex Burkhead and Quincy Enunwa lifted up Jack and Isaiah to touch the horseshoe that signifies the start of the Husker Tunnel Walk Journey. Isaiah, a six-year-old boy from McCook, Nebraska, met Jack through the University when Isaiah also was given the opportunity to met Rex Burkhead during the Arkansas State game. Isaiah is suffering from a brain tumor, like Jack, and may only have as little as two months to live. On September 29, 2012, Jack and Isaiah were invited to lead the tunnel walk, as this game was selected to re-present the Rare Disease Champion award to Burkhead. Bri Hoffman described the experience as, “…something our family will never forget. There are no words to describe it, really. We are overwhelmed by everyone’s support.” Jack and Isaiah thought that leading the tunnel walk was, “Awesome.”
Husker Nation is proud of Rex Burkhead and all the players who have donated their time and energy to this worthwhile cause and have rushed to become a part of Team Jack. The Husker Nation has embraced Team Jack and continues to keep him and his family in their prayers. Team Jack has inspired the Husker faithful to join Jack, his parents, and his siblings in the fight against Pediatric Brain Cancer.
