Last October, a grandmother from Arizona embarked on an unexpected journey, launching a YouTube channel where she plays Minecraft to fund her grandson’s life-saving cancer treatments. Today, that mission has reached a triumphant milestone: 17-year-old Jack Self is officially “cancer-free” and feeling revitalized.
At 81 years old, Sue Jacquot never anticipated becoming a gaming sensation. Her foray into the digital world began this past summer, driven by a simple desire to connect with her grandsons, Jack and Austin. After mastering the basics of the blocky sandbox, she felt inspired to share her progress with a wider audience. She established her channel, GrammaCrackers, with the specific goal of alleviating the staggering financial pressure of Jack’s intensive medical care.
Her debut video, a heartening 15-minute introduction titled “The BEST START EVER,” resonated deeply with viewers, quickly amassing over half a million views. Every upload features a direct link to Jack’s GoFundMe campaign, which has successfully raised more than $42,000 to date. Meanwhile, the GrammaCrackers channel has flourished, boasting nearly 200,000 subscribers, with all proceeds dedicated to Jack’s recovery fund.
Local news outlet ABC 15 recently visited the family in Queen Creek, Arizona, where Jack shared the wonderful news. “I am cancer-free,” he declared joyfully. “I’m feeling great.”
Jack’s battle began in early 2024 when he was diagnosed with sarcoma, a particularly aggressive form of cancer. His road to recovery was grueling, involving over 200 sessions of chemotherapy. For Jacquot, diving into Minecraft and content creation was a logical step, despite her lack of prior gaming experience.
“I wasn’t particularly curious about gaming initially, but when your grandkids want to spend time with you, you jump right in,” she explained. She noted that the community’s response has been overwhelming, with a constant deluge of prayers and encouraging messages since the channel’s inception.
Jack’s brother, Austin, admitted the family was stunned by her technical prowess, noting, “We were all blown away that she managed to figure it all out.” Reflecting on the journey, Jack added, “It was truly moving to see so many people showing such kindness to me and my grandma.”
In related news: Minecraft has overhauled its baby mob designs, making them more adorable than ever before.
Source: gamesradar.com
