Jackson's Biography
Jackson Erik Edwards was born on July, 4, 2006 in Stony Brook, New York. Jackson’s family consists of his mother Danielle, his brother CJ, his grandmother Debbie, his uncle Bryan, his aunt DeeDee, his uncle Bobby, and his grandpa Bob. When Jackson was about two years old we noticed that he wasn’t talking and that he wasn’t making eye contact. Jackson was evaluated and needed to receive early intervention services because he was diagnosed with Autism. As Jackson’s education progressed he was either on or above grade level in all his subjects. Jackson was a success story.
Jackson was always a sweet little boy. He and his brother CJ loved to play together all the time. They would play with Thomas the Train, Chuggington, Disney Pixar Cars, Transformers, Superheroes, WWE Wrestlers, and video games like Minecraft, Lego Marvel Superheroes, and Fortnite to name a few. Jackson and CJ were more than brothers they were best friends. Sibling rivalry never rear its head between them. They always looked out for each other and preferred the company of one another above all others.
Jackson loved celebrating holidays and birthdays. Jackson was not a typical child when it came to celebration. Jackson loved all the pomp and circumstance that went along with every festivity. He cherished all the preparations attached to the holidays; decorating, buying presents, baking Christmas cookies, cupcakes and brownies, and of course getting presents. Christmas was his favorite holiday. He would sing, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of The Year” and dance through the house. Jackson and CJ always looked forward to car ride adventures in search of Christmas lights and decorations.
Jackson would always get sick every year around Thanksgiving and Christmas whether it be a cold, ear infection, virus, or the stomach flu. Three weeks before Thanksgiving 2013, Jackson was sick again. He went back and forth to the hospital and doctor’s office for many weeks. He was not getting better. Several doctors said it was a virus, flu or ear infection each time. We all came to learn that none of the above was true. On December 17, 2013 Jackson was diagnosed with AML Leukemia. When Jackson found out that he wasn’t going to be home for Christmas he was really sad. He didn’t want to be away from his family and he didn’t want to miss his toys. His family told him that they were going to have Christmas in the hospital together. So the family decorated Jackson’s hospital room and brought all the presents to him for Christmas. Jackson spent the next five months in the hospital receiving heavy chemotherapy treatments. Jackson had an incredible spirit. While going through these treatments he was always positive and strong. While Jackson had different procedures or reactions to his medicine, he always found a way to handle it like no one had ever seen. When Jackson had to get a port put in his chest he said he was Ironman. When Jackson had a bad allergic reaction to medicine and his face swelled up he said he was the Hulk. This went on until one day he had a rough day and said, “ I am Flameboy”. Everyone asked him, “Who is Flameboy?” He answered, “ That is my superhero name.” This sweet young boy had been through so much and found a positive way to fight and look at life. Jackson was always really into superheroes and wrestlers. Jackson’s favorite superheroes would change over his lifetime but Captain America was always one of his favorites. His two other favorites toward the end of his life were Batman and Deadpool.
While Jackson was in the hospital aunt DeeDee’s fellow staff members took up a collection to purchase him an iPad. Jackson was so excited to get it. One day a child life worker came in and had mistaken his iPad for the hospital’s child life iPad and told him she needed it back. His aunt DeeDee said “sorry this is his iPad.” The child life specialist apologized and said that she had to locate the iPad in question because it was promised to a child and it was given to the wrong patient. Jackson said, “Here take mine and clean it, don’t take it away from someone, being in the hospital and getting chemo is hard. Just use mine for now.” This spoke volumes to the kind, compassionate warrior named Jackson AKA Flameboy.
In May of 2014, Jackson went into remission. Jackson and his family were so happy. Jackson was able to come home. He was doing well. In September 2014, Jackson went on his Make a Wish Trip to Disney and had a blast. While in remission Jackson was able to learn how to ride a bike, play soccer, and go to camp.
Jackson’s favorite sports were football, soccer, and wrestling. His favorite football teams were the Giants and the Patriots. His favorite wrestlers were Mick Foley, Roman Reigns, CM Punk, John Cena, and Becky Lynch. While in remission Jackson, CJ, and their mother Danielle started a toy drive for children who were in the hospital during Christmas. Jackson believed that no child should be in the hospital for Christmas and that if they were they needed lots of toys. Jackson always looked for ways to help and encourage others.
Christmas 2014, Jackson came down early to open presents like usual except he was crying hysterically. He said, “this is the best Christmas ever I am home with my family. I am so happy.” The entire family was shedding tears of joy.
Jackson was always the life of the party. He loved to dance. Wherever there was music Jackson was singing and dancing. He loved parties with a DJ and a dance floor. He would be the first one on the floor and the last one off. Jackson loved music so much he tried out the cello, the piano, and the saxophone for a while, but Jackson really always wanted to play the guitar.
Life was good and everything seemed to be going well. Jackson was in remission for two and a half years. Suddenly, Jackson got sick in the beginning of December 2016 and the doctors thought it was a stomach flu. Sadly by Christmas time Jackson relapsed. The world came crashing down again on this sweet boy. This time, Jackson needed chemo as well as a bone marrow transplant. We never found a 100% bone marrow match for Jackson. While receiving his treatment at Stony Brook, Jackson and CJ had a special guest that became their close friend. The guest was none other than WWE wrestler, Mick Foley. They were so excited. They had such a great time getting to know their hero. This was not only a surprise visit, but it was also the start of a great friendship. Jackson and CJ would have several visits inside and outside the hospital with their new friend Mick Foley. Jackson spent three more months at a hospital receiving chemo treatments and getting ready for a bone marrow transplant. He was transferred to Johns Hopkins to get a half match bone marrow transplant from his mother. He spent two more months in the hospital at Johns Hopkins and when he was released he had to live in Baltimore for a few months while waiting for medical approval to come home. Jackson asked his aunt DeeDee to take a picture of his bedroom and send it to him on his iPad because he forgot what it looked liked. Of course she did, but his request just broke her heart.
Jackson was doing well with his treatment and was able to come home July 31, 2017. He had not been home since December 2016. Jackson was so excited to come home. The closer he got to the house the more excited Jackson got! The excitement and anticipation was greater than the best film one had ever seen. When Jackson finally arrived at his house he was surprised by what was waiting for him. On the front yard was a huge banner that said “WELCOME HOME JACKSON”, along with the Terryville Fire Department, News 12, and most of all his teachers and fellow students from Comsewogue were there. When Jackson entered his home there was a big Christmas tree lit up and a huge flat screen tv in the living room. He was overwhelmed with joy! He ran up to pet his dog Simba, and then to check out his bedroom. The Christmas tree stayed up until January of the next year, and the big screen tv was where the entire family was able to see many movies together.
Jackson was able to go on another trip to Disney courtesy of Marty Lyons Foundation in November 2017. It was great to see him enjoy another trip with his family. When Jackson and his family went this time it was “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas”. This was truly a wonderful time for a little boy who loved Christmas so much and was forced to spend it in the hospital many times in his short life.
Jackson had also spent every holiday at least once in the hospital and even his own birthday. Unfortunately, Jackson spent many of CJ’s birthdays in the hospital. Jackson would make the child life specialist decorate his room and get a birthday cake so he could surprise his brother on his birthday. When CJ would get there it was decorated to the nines. All of CJ’s favorite foods would be there and many awesome presents that Jackson had picked out himself. It brought so much joy to everyone who saw it, but you could tell that it brought more joy to Jackson than anyone else who attended.
In Fall of 2018 Jackson started to experience complications and if you can imagine he was spending even more time in the hospital than before. He was experiencing a lot of breathing/lung infection issues that would eventually cause his passing.
December 2018 was the last Christmas Jackson and his family spent together, and they were only together briefly. Jackson and CJ woke up early to open their presents. Jackson was experiencing breathing issues, but didn’t want to go to the hospital until he opened his presents. As soon as his presents were open and while his mother was getting him ready to go to the hospital for a breathing treatment, CJ said “why is my body shaking”. CJ had a fever. Jackson and his mother went to the hospital and CJ, grandma, and aunt DeeDee had to remain home. This was the first holiday let alone Christmas that they weren’t together. Jackson couldn’t come home because it would be dangerous for him to catch what CJ had and neither grandma nor aunt DeeDee could risk exposing Jackson to the virus while they were caring for CJ. The family couldn’t spend New Year’s Eve together either due to the situation.
In April 2019, Jackson was able to meet the following WWE wrestlers at a WWE event for children fighting cancer: Roman Reigns, Sheamus, Cesaro, Nya Jax, Matt Hardy, Daniel Bryant, Renee Young, Elias, and Stephanie McMahon. When he came home what stories he told! He was so excited. Jackson’s family loved hearing him tell all the stories of the day. Jackson also let the WWE wrestlers know what his wrestling name was, The Flame. Jackson and CJ were surprised with Wrestlemania tickets and went to the wrestling event that weekend. A few days after this event Jackson was admitted to the hospital and never came home. His breathing issues got worse and he was put on a ventilator on May 5, 2019.
On May 15, 2019 this world lost a precious son, brother, grandson, nephew, and friend, but Heaven gained a beautiful soul. Jackson Erik Edwards is now with our Heavenly Father and Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, where there is no sickness, pain, or suffering. Where he is whole. Flameboy, you are and will always be the strongest Avenger. We miss you and will forever love you.