FACE OF TERMINAL CANCER
me going. He’s a little miracle in so o many ways. Any one of us can get et cancer. The difference is I have the he luxury of knowing roughly when and nd how I’m going to die. And that giveses me time to prepare.”
Jay has written cards to be opened ed throughout Maxie’s childhood.
His own father was in the Australian forces and Jay says: “I didn’t know my real dad until I was 16. I never got a birthday card or Christmas card from my dad.
“So I’m going to make sure Maxie gets a Christmas and birthday card up to the age of 18 – as well as presents on significant birthdays. Of course I want to be there for him in real life life, but I’vegotI’ve got to togogo to toanother another place. I’ve totally accepted that now. I’ve even arranged my own funeral.”
Jay has set up a JustGiving page to help support Maxie and Caroline. She has had to devote all her time to caring for him.
He has also told Caroline he wants her to find someone new. Then Jay even manages to make light of that, saying: “I know Caroline wouldn’t have somebody whoh didn’tdid ’h have Maxie’sM i ’ welfarelf at heart... I ’d haunt them if they didn’t!” Carol Caroline, meanwhile, cherishes their time together. She says: “Jay has been there for Maxie learning to crawl, cutting his first teeth, pulling himself up to standing. This week Maxie learned to say ‘Dad dad’. We have to force ourselves to laugh and see the good that we have.”
Jay wants more research into pancreatic cancer. He urges people to get any aches and pains checked out and a Facebook blo blog, BeMoreJay, sup supports people to be as upbeatu as possible. “There can be lots of silver linings,” he insists. “How many fathers get to spend the first year of their son’s life with them? “And now I spend an early Christmas with him too. Despite everything, I consider myself to be a lucky man in many ways.”
To donate to Jay’s cause visit
See his blog at Thanks to