His name is Jackson and he is three years old. When I saw in the media the photo of this little boy running around a Christmas tree, with a big smile on his face, with his prosthetic foot, I was amazed, and I said to myself that I had to absolutely that I write a word on his incredible story.
Celia Rodrigues, Jackson’s mother, first thought he had a nasty cold, and she left a medical clinic with a cough remedy. However, his condition deteriorated rapidly.
Jackson was not eating, he had a wet cough and was struggling to breathe. Quickly, a visit to the emergency room was essential. Already in the car, her son became lethargic. Unable to stand when they arrived at the hospital, Jackson was taken care of right away. He was intubated. Doctors then believed that by supplying his lungs with oxygen, in addition to antibiotics, his condition would improve. But nothing to do, Jackson’s body let go. A swarm of doctors and nurses now buzzed by his bedside. Jackson had developed toxic shock syndrome, following a Staphylococcus aureus infection.
And the family was not at the end of its troubles. In the days following his hospitalization, his body was having difficulty circulating oxygen and blood to his extremities, so that Jackson’s toes took on an eerie black color. After 56 nights in intensive care, Jackson was finally able to come home, where another challenge awaited him. He had to learn to walk again, this time with a prosthesis, following the amputation of his right foot.
Today, Jackson is a playful little boy who walks around with his prosthesis as if nothing had happened. He can walk and run, and for him that’s the most important thing. Obviously, the child will always remain the most authentic hero.