Baby Jackson's Family Thought He'd Never See Christmas. Then, A Miracle.

FAIR LAWN, N.J. — A year ago, Jackson Walsh's family was not sure he would live to see Christmas.

Walsh was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a supposedly rare form of cancer, when he was just 15 days old.

For months, his N.J. family went through a battery of tests, biopsies, and four rounds of chemotherapy.

The community rallied around the Walsh family. More than $71,000 was donated on a Go Fund Me page that was set up.

Other fundraisers were held. People brought the family meals. People spread Jackson's story online using the hashtag #Jacksonstrong, a nickname bestowed upon him for the battle he fought against the disease.

Walsh was declared cancer-free in January. He is 14 months old now and, to look at him, you would never know he had cancer.

Walsh and his family are the recipients of this year's Operation Santa Boone, an annual Fair Lawn fundraiser spearheaded by the borough's Health and Human Services, police and fire departments, police union, borough employees, and the Fair Lawn High School chorus. Everyone will be at Drummond's house Thursday to surprise the family with gifts the Fair Lawn High School Student Movement Against Cancer group purchased.

"We wanted to celebrate the fact that this Christmas, Jackson is cancer-free," said Liz Maresca Twiggs with the borough's Department of Health and Human Services. "We want to make this year's Christmas a lot more merry for the family than last year's was."

Operation Santa Boone is named after David Boone, a retired Fair Lawn Police detective and the department's chaplain. He is pastor of Van Riper Ellis Church. Each year, he and Twiggs jointly decide on the recipient.

"It's a miracle," said Stacie Drummond, Walsh's aunt. "Last year at this time we didn't know what was happening."

Walsh's family started the Jackson Strong Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping families of children diagnosed with cancer.

The police department recently donated $1,500 to the foundation.

"We're just so blessed that he is here," Drummond said of Walsh's recovery. "We're just so blessed that he is here. He's such a special little boy."

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Jackson Walsh — Courtesy of Jackson Strong Foundation