Lindenhurst Boy With Cancer Receives Special Visit From Local Cop

LINDENHURST, NY — A 6-year-old boy from Lindenhurst, who was diagnosed with cancer several years ago, recently got a special surprise thanks to a coordinated effort from his gym teacher and the local police.

When Jaxson Ginsberg was first diagnosed with leukemia at just 3-years-old, he had never even had a cold or a sore throat before. But one night when his mother, Melissa Digiacomo, saw him tugging on his ear, her first thought was that he had an ear infection. After she felt all lumps on his face from his swollen lymph nodes, she immediately thought he had the mumps. She took him to the pediatrician the next day, who sent them for a blood test at Good Samaritan Medical Hospital in West Islip. Afterwards, Jaxson was sent to the emergency room of Winthrop Pediatric Associates in North Babylon to see hematologist where just a few hours later, he was diagnosed with the cancer.

"It was crazy because he was acting totally normal the day before," Digiacomo told Patch. "It was devastating, obviously, but it was out of nowhere."

He immediately got a blood transfusion and had to start chemotherapy two days later. Ever since then, he has been undergoing treatment for over three years. After undergoing IV chemo every three months, oral chemo every night, another kind of oral chemo once a week and steroids every three months, Jaxson will finally have his last day of treatment in April.

"Hopefully we'll be done and it will be behind us," Digiacomo said. "But it's been a long, long scary, up and down roller coaster journey through it all."

Despite all that he has undergone, his mother says that Jaxson handles everything very well.

"These kids are very resilient," she said. "I've never seen anything like it. They smile through it."

For Digiacomo, what has gotten her through the process has been support from an online community. Shortly after discovering Jaxson's diagnosis, she began joining several Facebook groups and consulting with other parents who have gone through similar situations for answers.

"It's crazy how many people rally around you and you never feel alone," she said. "Sometimes it's the strangers that get you through the bad days because those are the ones who have gone through it and can talk you off the ledge."

In addition, the local community and his teachers at Daniel Street Elementary School have been extremely supportive. His gym teacher even helped to organize the special event to honor the first-grader this week. According to his mom, Jaxson has always been sensitive around men since his father, Digiacomo's fiance, passed away just 22 days before his son's birth. Growing up without a dad, Jaxson has always seen policemen and a kind of "father-figures."

"All the police that we see here in Lindenhurst they will wave or beep or do something to get a kid's attention and it makes them feel special," she said. "They are respected and caring and Jaxson just looks up to them."

So after telling his gym teacher, Courtney Dietz, how much he liked the police, she reached out on Facebook to ask for memorabilia from various police departments. The response was overwhelming, even reaching police precincts as far as Wisconsin and Michigan. Thanks to her campaign, Jaxson received over 30 badges, 15 to 20 t-shirts, PBA cards, stickers, cards and more. In addition, he even got a special visit during his gym class. On Tuesday Suffolk Police Officer Thomas Joy stopped by the local elementary school and presented Jaxson with a Junior Police Officer hat, Frisbee, T-shirts, a police patch and other items.

"Jaxson may be young but he already has his career plans set on becoming a Suffolk County police officer. Part of his preparation includes dressing as a police officer every Halloween," the department wrote in a Facebook post. "When SCPD heard about Jaxson, we gathered all the swag this brave fighter deserves. Keep fighting Jax, and one day we hope to see you wearing our uniform not only on Halloween, but every day."

Digiacomo said she never expected to receive so much support and that afterwards, Jaxson was so excited about all the attention he received.

"Just important people taking time out of their day to make my son smile was more of a gift than anyone could ever imagine," she said.

She wanted to thank everyone who sent gifts and helped set everything up.

"This is probably the happiest I have seen him in three and a half years," she said.

All photos courtesy of Melissa Digiacomo