In a heart-wrenching medical battle that has captivated their Hunter Valley community, one-year-old Jaxson Simpson has endured two major spinal surgeries after doctors discovered a 10-centimetre tumour growing on his spine.
A parent's worst nightmare
The family's ordeal began on October 12 when Justin Simpson found his baby son hunched over to his right side, unable to move his left leg and crying in pain. Medical scans soon revealed the shocking truth: a massive tumour pressing against Jaxson's spinal cord.
Doctors delivered devastating news to the Rutherford parents - if they didn't operate within days, their son would face permanent paralysis. "The thought of that was unbearable, but we had no choice," Justin recalled of the impossible decision.
Ten-hour marathon surgery
Just two days after the diagnosis, Jaxson underwent an intensive 10-hour spinal cord surgery that required surgeons to cut through seven vertebrae. The incision stretched from his small shoulders all the way down to his waist.
"The surgeons did an incredible job," Justin said. "They managed to remove approximately 75 per cent of the tumour while preserving his neurological function." The medical team's skill became evident five days later when Jaxson regained spontaneous movement, allowing his relieved parents to finally hold him again.
Tumour regrows at alarming rate
The family's relief proved short-lived when concerns about Jaxson's deteriorating condition prompted another MRI scan on his first birthday. Midway through a joint birthday celebration with his five-year-old brother Lincoln in the hospital's fairy garden, Jaxson was taken for scanning.
The results delivered soul-destroying news: the tumour had regrown larger than before in just two weeks. The very next day - which happened to be Lincoln's fifth birthday - Jaxson was back in surgery for his second major operation.
"That night was one of the hardest of our lives, but our little boy came out strong," Justin said. "Miraculously, he still had movement in both legs after surgeons removed more of the tumour."
Chemotherapy begins as diagnosis changes
Five days following his second surgery, Jaxson began his first round of chemotherapy. While initial biopsy results suggested a slow-growing pilocytic astrocytoma, the aggressive regrowth has led doctors to treat it as cancerous.
"He's been coping well so far, but it's still early days," Justin said. "He's regained a lot of movement in his left leg, but there's no way of knowing if he will recover fully." The family clings to hope that with time and therapy, Jaxson might eventually walk again.
Family's financial strain
The emotional toll has been compounded by increasing financial pressure as both parents have stopped working to remain by their son's hospital bedside. "We've been living in the hospital for a month now," Justin explained.
With sick leave and holiday pay running out and Christmas approaching, the family has turned to their community for support through a GoFundMe campaign titled "Help baby Jaxson and family fight spinal cancer".
Despite the overwhelming challenges, Jaxson's fighting spirit has inspired his family, who now call him "super Jax". His father marvels at his son's resilience: "He's strong as an ox for a little man. He's shown unbelievable strength and courage. He smiles through the pain, fights every day and keeps proving everyone wrong."
The Rutherford couple, who have three other children aged 5, 15 and 16, expressed deep gratitude for the support from family, friends and the medical team at John Hunter Children's Hospital during what they describe as "the darkest time of our lives".
