Boy who's beating the odds

Four months ago, Jared was a typical nine-year-old boy who loved rock music, playstation and hanging out with his younger siblings Joseph and Jess.

But a niggling pain in his left ankle, which caused him to limp and his parents to constantly nag at him to "walk properly boy", would change his life forever.

Jared was admitted to Wellington Hospital on June 14, and doctors found a massive tumour in his ankle, which had spread over half of his lower left leg.

They also found tumours in his right knee, pelvis, spine, lungs and in the back of his skull.

Jared was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma – a bone marrow and soft tissue cancer that is mainly found in boys aged 10 to 20 – and was given a 10 per cent chance of survival.

Three days later his parents were told to expect the worst.

"The consultant told us 'we are in God's hands tonight'. We can only hope he responds to the treatment," his mother, Liz Howard, said.

Jared did. After one night of chemotherapy he showed a dramatic improvement. The tumours began to reduce and his ability to move returned.

Now having completed four lots of chemotherapy, Jared is well enough to get back into some of the things he loves, one of which is Kiwi band Luger Boa.

Ms Howard wrote to the band telling them her son was a "huge fan" and knew the words to their songs.

The band were so touched by Jared's story they have decided to put on a special matinee for him in Auckland next month.

"When we were contacted by Jared's mother, Liz, we were in the middle of a crazy tour in Nelson," band member Jimmy Christmas said.

"With everything laid on and being humbled by incredible hospitality, we were reminded how self- indulgent the whole rock'n'roll business can be and here, in the midst of all that, was an opportunity to do something for a young fan who more than deserved the royal treatment himself."

Christmas said Jared's story connected with him on a personal level. `I lost my father far too early to an aggressive and brutal cancer."

Jared will fly up to Auckland on October 2 and attend the matinee the following day. The band will also play a concert that night and all proceeds will go to the Child Cancer Foundation.

After being on crutches for nine weeks, Jared has just got the all clear to walk on his cancer-affected leg again. He is now in Christchurch getting ready for a stem cell harvest, in which cells will be taken from his bone marrow.

"He's really enjoying being as normal as he can be," Ms Howard said.

"He's a great little person, so kind, and compassionate. This whole experience has made him so strong."

Though the future for Jared is uncertain, Ms Howard remains hopeful.

"He has more fight in him than any person I have ever known."

- © Fairfax NZ News