Mum’s tribute to brave Jak
West Lothian woman Allison Barr marked her son’s 21st birthday by releasing a book in his memory.
Allison created Jak’s Den in Livingston to support families living with cancer after her son, Jak Trueman, passed away aged 15 with the disease.
The enthralling book documents the family’s battle with cancer and Jak’s incredible fighting spirit.
The reader learns about Jak coming up with the idea for a cancer charity right in the midst of his fight with the illness, and then the effort put in to fulfil his wish after he passed away.
Allison delivers a unique insight into childhood cancer and how she has worked toward creating such a fitting legacy for her son.
A remarkable West Lothian woman has released a biography on her beloved son, Jak Trueman, to mark his 21st birthday.
Allison Barr wrote, ‘My Beautiful Boy: Jak’s Journey’, documenting her son’s life, from his formative years right up until their very last seconds together.
Jak bravely fought cancer whilst creating his own legacy charity for young people before he passed away, aged 15, on Monday, February 2, 2015.
He would have celebrated his 21st birthday on September 21, so to mark the occasion his mum Allison released the book.
Speaking to The Courier, she explained: “Monday was a really special day and the best tribute possible I could have paid to my boy on his 21st birthday.
“It was such a therapeutic process for me and allowed me to finally get everything written down and out there for the world to read.
“The response has been just lovely too and people have been really kind.”
The family spent the day together to celebrate Jak’s birthday and spent some time at his grave.
Allison intended to launch the book at her mum’s house but changed plans at the last minute to hold the event at Jak’s Den.
Allison continued: “It ended up being a bit of a mad dash on the day to get from the grave up to Jak’s Den.
“But we got up there and the event was obviously live on Facebook.
“We had a really nice night and there were some really lovely comments left for us too.
“I am just so happy to have been able to have done this for my boy.”
Allison began writing the book days after Jak died and chapter one opens with a summary of the youngster’s life, alongside sister Aimie, up until the age of 14. Chapter two opens with Jak displaying symptoms and Allison thereafter takes her audience on
an intimate journey through a family’s battle with cancer. Allison’s story of childhood cancer from a mother’s perspective is unique and powerful.
She describes herself as a ‘cancer mum’ and it really resonates.
The ‘ Extra Time’ and ‘ Final Whistle’ chapters that describe Jak’s final moments are especially poignant.
But the book doesn’t end there and Allison details her boy’s legacy, Jak’s Den, and everything she has put in place in his memory.
She describes how initially they just wanted to address some of Jak’s requests, like creating a space for “families to come and chill and relax and be themselves”.
Gradually the project has grown and now they have their Livingston HQ and pop-ups through Scotland.
As of writing, Jak’s Den have 222 families registered for their support service and work with many more through hospitals.
It was such a therapeutic process for me… the response has been just lovely too. People have been really kind Mum Allison Barr