Young survivor loses fight, but inspires

PROVIDENCE, R.I.. (WPRI) - Providence 9-year-old Jenna Jacques, whose relentless will to survive sent brain cancer into remission, has lost her battle. But her impact is expected to live on in the countless Rhode Islanders she's inspired with her strength, courage and dimples.

She was diagnosed with a plum-sized brain tumor in March 2011. As she tried to continue her life as a happy second-grader who liked math, reading Junie B. Jones books and listening to Justin Bieber, she also had to mix in 16 pills a day and three hours of chemotherapy, five days a week.

• A Wish Comes True

"She's strong," Jenna's mom Heather told us in May of 2011 . "She's stronger than me. She's stronger than you. She's stronger than anybody I know."

The first signs of the tumor were barely noticeable. What started with occasional headaches around Christmas of 2010 developed into a sore leg and then a slight limp. Doctors thought it was a virus.

“My world crumbled,” Heather said, remembering when the brain tumor was discovered. “I have no other words for it.”

But there was joyful relief by August of 2011 when Jenna's cancer was thankfully in remission. And in March of this year, Jenna was honored by Rhode Island Pink Heals. For the first time in the Northeast, the organization of firefighters and police officers dedicated a pink rescue truck in the name of a cancer patient and Jenna and her family members signed the bright pink rig.

“She’s very remarkable,” Pink Heals President Ted Dion said at the time. “She’s inspirational.”

Early in her battle, the local organization Fighting For A Chance teamed up with the Amos House Carpentry Training Program to build a wheel chair ramp at the Jacques’ home. Jenna was weakened after the brain tumor was removed and she was unable to walk on her own.

"She's sweet, but tough as nails," said Mickey Bailey of Fighting For A Chance. "Unfortunately, an 8-year-old girl has no control over her own destiny. We're just trying to make that destiny a little easier."

Jenna appreciated it.

“Now, I don’t have to get bounced down the stairs anymore,” she said with a playful smile.

Jenna eventually was able to walk down the ramp on her own and she attended a graduation ceremony at Amos House to thank the carpenters who helped make her life a lot easier.

Make A Wish helped Jenna meet her idol in June. Jenna changed her wish from going to Disney World to meeting Justin Bieber . With only a few days notice, the 9-year-old was on her way to Oslo, Norway to meet the pop star who talked with her and even kissed her on the cheek.

The seemingly miraculous recovery from this aggressive form of cancer ended Friday July 6 at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, about 16 months after the diagnosis. Jenna may have only made it to the 3 ^rd grade, but she taught a lot of adults how to face a devastating disease with grace, strength and even smiles.

Send your news tips to Walt Buteau at wbuteau@wpri.com and follow Walt on Twitter: @wbuteau