Jack Witherspoon was born, John Hansen Witherspoon, on April 20, 2000. He lives in Redondo Beach, California, with his parents John and Lisa Witherspoon and his brother Joshua, whom is two years his junior. 

Jack was born a healthy child, but when he was only two years and three months old Jack was diagnosed with leukemia. His type of leukemia is called, Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, this is commonly known as “childhood leukemia” and is referred to as ALL. Most people who get ALL are between two and eight years of age.

To cure him, Jack immediately began a three year, three month course of treatment. The treatment consisted of a combination of chemotherapy and a steroid called Decadron. This is an intense treatment to put small children through but their resilience and recovery is astounding, consequently, the cure rate is very high. Although Jack did not have the typical experiences a toddler would have, his spirit and demeanor were happy and unaffected by his circumstances. Jack finished his treatment when he was five years old.  He had responded well to treatment and his prognosis to be cured was good. Jack had finished kindergarten and was in his first few weeks of first grade when, almost exactly one year after treatment ended, Jack relapsed. His family and friends were extremely saddened and disappointed. Jack would now have to begin another course of treatment that would be many times stronger than the first and would require many hospital stays. Although the treatment is stronger the cure rate for a relapse is much lower. This protocol would last two years and four months.

Because of the intensity of the treatment, Jack was taken out of school. Due to the risk of infection, playing with friends and any group activities was stopped. During one of Jack’s eleven hospital stays that year, Jack was channel surfing and came upon the Food Network. It captured his interest. He would watch show after show after show. It wasn’t long before Jack knew what he wanted to do. Some day he wanted to be a chef just like the ones he saw on the Food Network.

Because of Jack’s love of cooking and deep desire to be a chef, in December of 2007, Jack’s family organized a fundraiser called, “Cooking up Dreams”. Jack was the guest “Chef”, he wrote the menu which included all of his favorite foods. The net proceeds were donated to the Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Center at Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach; this is where Jack has received all of his treatment. The monies donated were directed all to leukemia research. This event raised $36,000.

Jack continued on with his treatment, now however it would be at a lesser intensity, he was able to return to school and resume his normal activities. Even so, he never lost his interest in cooking. The following December in 2008, Jack and his family hosted another “Cooking up Dreams” event. Jack has now established a permanent endowment at Miller Children’s Hospital in his name. He has raised over $60,000 for leukemia research so far.

Jack’s aspirations to be a chef and his philanthropic efforts have captured the attention of the media. His story has been reported on the Channel 2 news and CNN. He has been written up in the L.A. Times as well as dozens of other papers across the country.

Jack is only eight years old, but last January of 2009, he cooked with Jay Leno on The Tonight Show and that following February was a guest on the Bonnie Hunt Show. He is completing his first cookbook with his Mom, entitled “Twist it up”. This also happens to be his catch phrase.

Jack is in third grade now and has caught up academically despite missing almost all of first grade and half of second grade. He plays Little League Baseball and is a blue belt in Taekwondo. Jack is also a good swimmer and loves to surf with his Dad.

Jack ended his leukemia treatment this past January, 2009. He is now in complete remission.