Cancer patient to finish carpentry apprenticeship despite treatment
Jackson Hepner, 20, will complete a major milestone next month, despite ongoing treatment for osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer.
QLD News
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Jackson Hepner doesn’t talk about his cancer much – he’d rather be out having a few beers or going fishing and camping with his mates.
But for much of the past two-and-a-half years, the 20-year-old’s life has revolved around gruelling chemotherapy, surgery and radiation treatments after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, in his teens.
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Last year Jackson and his family, including sister Rylee, 17, and parents Rachael and Mitch, were told the cancer, which began in a bone in his lower right leg, was in his lungs.
And earlier this year, doctors discovered it had spread to both his thigh bones.
Jackson, from Mount Archer, an hour-and-a-half’s drive northwest of Brisbane, is having radiation treatment and his Mum hopes he’ll be accepted into a drug trial testing the effectiveness of immunotherapy on osteosarcoma.
The Hepners are also researching the possibility of taking Jackson overseas for treatment.
Throughout it all, Jackson has continued his carpentry apprenticeship, which he’s due to complete next month.
“He’s inspiring every day,” Mrs Hepner said.
“He’s got the fight of an ox in him, that boy. He amazes us, blows us away, really, the way he handles it and just gets on with it.
“He doesn’t complain. Obviously, finding out the cancer has returned has gutted us all.”
Jackson said continuing with his apprenticeship had allowed him to focus on things other than his cancer.
“All the blokes I work with keep you from thinking about it, which is good,” he said.
“I just thought it would be better not sitting at home, doing nothing.
“Without all my mates and my family, I’d probably be buggered, to be honest.”
This year, Jackson benefited from a pilot program set up by the Sony Foundation to place regional cancer patients aged between 15 and 25, and their families, in Quest apartments while they were undergoing treatment.
With about one-third of cancer patients coming from regional areas, the Sony Foundation has decided to continue the You Can Stay program, which will benefit from an online donation day today.
Every $100 raised funds one night of accommodation.
To donate: sonyfoundation.org/givingday
