At Christmas time in 2006, Jack was taken to hospital with meningitis. While there, the doctor did a chest X-ray which showed the left lower lobe of his lung was collapsed due to an ongoing undetected chest infection. It was then that the doctors looked through all his medical history and performed a sweat test that came back positive. He was diagnosed in February 07. 

Since then he has had a lot to deal with, he's had numerous hospital visits and treatment but he's trooped through it all and is still smiling!

Update 1st July 2010

Jack has been very poorly this month; he has had 2 weeks of i.v's but is still coughing badly. He isn’t eating and is very tearful. We have 2 weeks left of oral antibiotics then if there is no improvement we will be going up to London to have another Bronchoscopy. Jack is still playing and going to school but is very tired and chesty right now.

Update 1st June 2010

Jack isn’t too bad, he will be having iv antibiotics in hospital for 2 weeks on the 8th June and they are routine, but he does have a cough that he cant shift as well at the moment.

Update 2nd May 2010

We have had a very tough month this month as Jack’s Nan (my Mum) passed away during surgery so we have all been grieving and in shock too. Jack was so very close to his Nanny.

Jack is continuing to do well though no changes of the CF front. He is enjoying school and his topic which is ‘under the sea’.

Both boys have really enjoyed the influx of post they have received this month, thank you everyone.

Update 8th April 2010

Jack is doing ok at the moment. We have had a tough month as his Nan (my Mum) is in hospital waiting for a serious heart operation, but we have been keeping our spirits up as best we can.

Jack and Harry loved the Bunny that was adopted for them, it was a lovely gift.

Jack is still enjoying school and keeping well.

Update 4th February 2010

Jack is continuing to do well and his annual review was really positive with an improvement on this time last year. Our next challenge is to get him to swallow tablets, so if anyone has any tips, please let us know!

Update 4th January 2010

Jack is continuing to do well and we had a lovely Christmas. Thank you to everyone who took the time to send Jack and Harry something.

Update 28th November 2009

Jack has had a tough month, he was admitted to the Royal Brompton in London to have his Portacath replaced and we have just finished 2 weeks of I.V's but now hopefully things are back to normal (whatever that is!).

Thanks for all the lovely gifts and cards you have been sending and thanks for not forgetting Harry, we really appreciate it! 

Update 1st November 2009

Jack is in hospital at the moment, he has had to go to London for an operation to change his Port and a Bronchoscopy.

Update 29th September 2009

I would like to thank everyone this month who wished Jack a happy birthday. He had a lovely day and was really pleased to receive all your lovely post.

He also started school and is getting on really, really well.

We are going into hospital tomorrow for a Portacath rescue mission as Jack’s isn't working as well as it should right now, so please wish us luck!

Thanks again.

Update 9th September 2009

Jack is doing ok though he has still got a bit of a wet cough which is hanging around.

He is very excited to be turning 5 this month and starting 'big' school.

We had a little holiday which was lovely.

Thanks to all who have sent post this month. I would be really grateful if anyone sending post to Jack could add a little note to Harry as he is feeling a little left out!

Update 4th August 2009

Jack has a bad cough at the moment and we are trying to get to the bottom of it! He is fine in himself though, still a ball of mad energy!

He is looking forward to school and has got his entire uniform ready now. He just has the important task of choosing a lunch box left!

We are going to Devon for a little holiday soon so we are all looking forward to that.

Thanks to everyone who sent post this month.

Update 1st July 2009

Jack is doing well and he is looking forward to starting ‘big school’ in a couple of months.

We’re also going on holiday for a week to Devon to hunt for dinosaurs which he is looking forward to.

Thanks to everyone who sent something to Jack and Harry this month.

Update 31st May 2009

Jack is continuing to do well. He is having routine I.V's this month. He is getting excited about starting school in September.

Thanks for all cards/letter/gifts this month and everything for Harry too. 

Update 1st May 2009

Jack is doing well at the moment. He is enjoying the good weather and has been spending a lot of time running around outside which is great physio! He has been visiting his Primary school to get him used to it for when he goes in September and he is very excited.

Thank you for the post and Jack really loved the bear he was sent.

Update 3rd April 2009

Jack has had a few different coughs and infections but is still in high spirits.

Update 1st March 2009

Jack is currently waiting to see if he will need some I.V's in hospital. He has started coughing after being taken off his medication at his annual review.

Update 2nd February 2009

Jack is continuing to do well. He had his annual review last week and he is showing no signs of getting worse. His doctors have stopped a lot of his medicines to see how he will cope without them – we’re a bit worried by this but are hoping he stays well without them.

Thanks for all post that has been sent this month.

Update 1st January 2008

Jack is dong well at the moment.

We had a really good Christmas and i would like to thank everyone who sent a card/gift or message to Jack and Harry - it was very much appreciated and they loved everything they got.

Jack is still having 3 monthly IV's and will hopefully have his annual review in January.

Update 28th November 2008

Jack is still doing well and he is really looking forward to Christmas.

He will be having 2 weeks of i.v antibiotics from the 2nd December so he is a bit sad to be missing school.

Merry Christmas to everyone.

Update 1st November 2008

We had a lovely holiday this month and Jack and Harry saw Bob the Builder, Fireman Sam, Barney and loads more of their favourite characters. We had a really lovely time.

Jack is due an annual review sometime soon so hopefully the results will be positive.

Thanks to everyone who has sent such lovely cards/gifts and letters to Jack, we are all really grateful that you guys take the time to make him smile each week.

Update 30th September 2008

Jack is continuing to do well. He has started a new nursery and is making lots of new friends. We are going on holiday in 2 weeks and Jack’s really excited as he will be seeing Bob the Builder! He had a lovely birthday party and we would like to thank everyone who sent cards and gifts.

Update 30th August 2008

Jack is really well at the moment and he will be starting at a new school in a couple of week’s time.

It's Jacks birthday on the 15th of September and he is having a surprise party!

Thanks again for all your lovely cards and gifts.

Update 1st July 2008

Jack is doing really well at the moment. I have been trained to administer his i.v's so he can have them at home rather then spending 2 weeks in hospital every 3 months. He is cough free for the first time since he was diagnosed, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed he will stay well for the time being.

Update 29th May 2008

Jack is doing ok. He will be in hospital from the 2nd June for at least a week for i.v's.

Jack has been having lots of fun on holiday and he has learnt to swim!

Update 30th April 2008

Jack is doing so well at the moment; he will be starting home i.v's soon which will be really great. He will be going into hospital for a week on the 2nd of June then coming home for a week on home i.v's then hopefully all his other i.v's will be at home if he is well. His port has been a godsend, just one tiny prick and his i.v's can be administered without any pain or tears and no theatre!

Jack still really loves getting post and especially likes photos of people’s pets and hearing about their lives. Jack’s brother Harry is now older and would like some post to read as well please if possible!

Update 4th April 2008

Jack spent last month in hospital and had a portacath fitted into his chest. This will give the doctors direct access for all future antibiotics. Hopefully this will make a huge difference as Jack has had a lot of problems in the past keeping lines and canulars open. Jack is back home now and is well again! He is currently off school for 2 weeks for half term.

Update 28th February 2008

Jack has had a tough month this month. He has been in hospital for 3 and a half weeks. He had IV antibiotics for a chest infection and also had a portacath fitted for future use. He is still very sore but getting there and has been allowed home today so he's really happy.

Hopefully we can now have a quiet period where he will stay well for a while. He will also be having 3 monthly IV's now to keep things under control.

Thanks to everyone who sent Jack and Harry post this month, we had a tough time in hospital so it really cheered us up. Postpals really has made a difference to our lives, when things aren't going well there is still post to look forward to.

Update 31st January 2008

Jack isn't well and he is going in to hospital for 2 weeks of intravenous antibiotics on Monday and then he will be transferred to London to have a portacath fitted.

He had a lovely Christmas and we would like to express how much all the cards and parcels we received meant to us, especially Jack who loves receiving your post! Thank you!

Update 6th December 2007

Jack is not doing brilliantly at the moment. He has a reoccurring cough; he may have to have regular i.v’s at 3 month intervals starting from January.

He has his annual review in London next week and we’re hoping it goes as well as possible.

We have had a breakthrough with Jack’s nebulizer as he isn’t crying anymore and just accepts it, so that’s a big struggle over each day.

I just want to thank Post Pals; it’s a fab organization that brightens the day of a child who can’t understand why life’s not great some days. Jack knows that whatever treatment or procedure he has to have he will always have Posty to look forward to!

Update 5th November 2007

Jack is well. He recently had 2 weeks in hospital having i.v’s as he has got psudemonious (sp?) He is now taking daily nebulizers and having more antibiotics. He doesn’t like his Neb’s as he has a fear of masks, but we are hoping he will get used to it like he did his other medication. He has lost a lot of weight so he has lost his little pot belly, but all in all he is feeling a lot better after that dreadful cough he had.

Update 16th October 2007

We have just found out Jack has an infection and is being admitted to hospital for 2 weeks on Thursday 18th Oct until 1st Nov for I.V antibiotics. I am sure any extra smiles and tlc would be much appreciated.

Update 5th October 2007

Jack celebrated his 3rd birthday in September. Thanks to everyone who sent him birthday cards and gifts, he had a whale of a time opening them and showing his friends at his birthday party.

He is ok health wise, apart from a bad cough. If it's still lingering by the time he is in clinic (October), there is a good chance he will have to go into the children’s ward for 2 weeks of I.V's. We have stepped up his physio so hopefully this won't happen.  

He is doing well at school and has made a new best friend, which is really lovely to see. He has come out of his shell now he feels well which is fantastic for us to watch. He is a lot more like a normal little boy now; before he was diagnosed he was very withdrawn and quiet.

Post Pal's is a fantastic organization. It has really helped Jack to look forward to each day, which was hard for him before. We would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to send anything to Jack, it really brightens his day, especially when he's feeling poorly. He waits for our Postman everyday to see if there is anything nice for him. He also really enjoys sending the other Post Pals cards and pictures he has made.

Update 23rd August 2007

Since having a Bronchoscopy a few months ago, for which he was anesthetised, Jack has been having nightmares about hospitals and doctors. We have been collecting a doctor’s kit to dress Jack’s dog teddy (Ivy) up in so that he has a companion on his hospital visits!

I just wanted to thank Post Pals and everyone who has sent Jack wonderful cards and parcels! It really brightens his day when the postman arrives with a handful of mail for him. I just love watching him tear open the letters in anticipation and i love seeing his face light up when he finally gets inside the envelopes. Post Pals has made a huge difference.