Jacob Thompson who inspired outpouring of Christmas cards, dies after courageous cancer battle

PORTLAND, Maine -- A 9-year-old who motivated hundreds of thousands of people around the world to send him Christmas cards and well-wishes for his last holiday, lost his battle with cancer on Sunday.

Jacob Thompson was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma in February 2014 when he was just 5-years-old. Neuroblastoma is a cancer that generally affects children and infants. When Jacob was admitted to Maine Medical Center on October 11,2017, his parents were told he only had a month to live.

Four years later, Jacob wanted to celebrate one more Christmas by asking people to send Christmas cards to him. People world-wide answered his small, quiet call for holiday cards, and they did so in a big way. 

Dying boy's wish for early Christmas cards touches nation's heart

Tens of thousands of cards flew into Jacob's small hospital room from celebrities to ordinary people whose hearts were touched by Jacob's sweet spirit and simple request. 

"It's phenomenal, because of course I have always thought he was special...And now the world knows he is special...," Michelle Simard, Jacob's mom, said. "He has brought a lot of positive to other people and reminded them that this is the time for giving and sharing." 

In his last days, Jacob not only received pallets full of mail but had visitors like the University of Maine hockey team. 

After learning that Jacob loved penguins, the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut brought the tuxedo birds to Maine to meet their young fan. A common saying of Jacob's was "live life like a penguin".

On November 9th, members of the law enforcement community from across New England caravanned to Maine to visit Jacob.

"A simple request for Christmas cards touches everybody, I think," said Agent Richard Gagnier, who works for the Department of Homeland Security in Boston. He was especially touched to hear Jacob’s two favorite things are penguins and police officers. "It resonated pretty deep with a lot of agencies and departments."

"I just hope we bring a smile to Jacob’s face," said Gagnier. "He really moved me," he said. 

And just one week before his death, Jacob celebrated his last Christmas with surrounded by his family and with a special visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

"It's what's it's all about. Making kids happy. We go to children's hospital's across the U.S. This is not the only trip we make and if you can make things better for a small child, that's a good feeling for us too." said Santa.

Jacob's family say they have been overwhelmed by the support and love they have felt by fellow Mainers, and strangers they will likely never meet. In Jacob's last days, the family urged people to send cards to servicemen and women as Jacob still had 21 pallets of mail to sift through.  

His family created a GoFundMe on Oct. 16 in anticipation of his passing, writing, "No one thinks about having to do this type of planning for their child and because of that we did nor do not have life insurance on him." 

You can also offer condolences through the family's Facebook page, "Jacob Thompson’s Journey."