Massachusetts police caravan to Maine to ‘lift the spirits’ of a 9-year-old cancer patient
Police officers from around Massachusetts drove a caravan of cruisers up to Maine to bring holiday cheer to a 9-year-old cancer patient on Wednesday.
Jacob Thompson, who has stage 4 neuroblastoma, was admitted to Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland on October 11, and his parents have been told he’s expected to pass away before the holidays, according to a GoFundMe campaign set up by his mother, Michelle Thompson Simard.
After learning Jacob loves police officers and is too weak for visitation, Lieutenant John Bonney of the Stoughton Police Department invited fellow first responders for a drive-by in a Monday post.
Officers from Whitman, Norfolk, Cambridge, UMass, Seekonk, Sharon, Abbington, West Bridgewater, and Bridgewater State, among others, participated in the drive-by, Massachusetts State Police wrote.
State police posted a video of the drive-by on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/MassStatePolice/videos/1515396068544371/
Last week, Jacob’s request for Christmas cards so he could celebrate the holiday season early went viral. Thousands have sent in cards already, many adorned with festive penguins.
Thompson Simard told GoodHousekeeping.com that penguins are Jacob’s favorite animal. In his words, his motto “live like a penguin” means “be friendly, stand by each other, go the extra mile, jump into life and be cool.”
Numerous celebrities, including the cast of TV medical drama Code Black, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Anna Kendrick, and Arnold Schwarzenegger have also sent their support.
https://www.facebook.com/michellethompsonmaine/posts/10213666278186323?pnref=story
The Stoughton Police Relief Association bought a penguin stuffed animal with police badges to give to Jacob along with cards, the department wrote on Facebook.
Stoughton police are giving Jacob Thompson a stuffed animal penguin, his favorite animal.
