In Little Falls, the Berg family is facing an unimaginable challenge: their 12-year-old son Jackson Berg has been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. But through it all, they have found solace and strength in the unwavering support of their community.
The journey began in March, when the Berg family rushed Jackson to the emergency room after noticing concerning symptoms. After a series of tests, the diagnosis was revealed. Jackson Berg had primary renal rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and high-grade cancer that had already spread to another vein. As a result, he needed to have one of his kidneys removed.
Amy Berg, Jackson Berg’s mother, said they could not have afforded to make the many trips to the hospital if not for support from community members, including the local Lions Club as well as from Jackson’s former school. The family had moved to Little Falls earlier in 2024, so receiving the level of support from mostly strangers, whether it be in the form of financial assistance, emotional support or prayers, was deeply appreciated by the Bergs.
The family’s GoFundMe campaign has raised over $8,000 to help cover the staggering medical expenses, which include multiple surgeries, chemotherapy treatments and frequent trips to the children’s hospital, often lasting several days at a time. The page’s funding goal is currently set to $50,000.
During the interview, Lincoln Berg, Jackson Berg’s younger brother, started crying as he heard about the family’s financial struggles. Amy and Jeffrey Berg, the boys’ father, assured their son that everything would work out.
“You have everything you’ve ever wanted, right?” Amy Berg said to her son. “We’re going to be OK. We’re going to be OK.”
“You would never choose this. You can’t prepare for this. But you can get up every day and keep going and help the next people on their path,” Amy said. “I posted on Facebook, basically a story about walking down the stairwell, and you have people behind you and in front of you and you know people go up and then they come back down halfway and they have to go back up again. It’s just a good way to describe it, because some days are good, some days are bad and we just have to look at other people and help them through, the ones that are coming in now, because we were helped a lot by the cancer community.”
Despite the challenges, Jackson Berg has remained remarkably resilient. He and Lincoln Berg recently attended a special camp for children with cancer, Kamp KACE (Kids Against Cancer Everywhere), where he was able to enjoy activities like swimming, fishing and horseback riding, a much-needed respite from the rigors of his treatment.
The Bergs were also amazed at Jackson’s unwavering sense of humor throughout the past five months. When told he would need to have his kidney removed, he joked about being relieved to only need to deal with one. When told the chemotherapy would cause his hair to fall out, he dyed it purple, while Lincoln Berg dyed a bit of his hair blue in support. For Halloween, he hopes to get a temporary tattoo of a blue arrow running up his head, just like the character Aang has, a 12-year-old child who is also bald from one of his favorite cartoons, “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” He also loves playing on the Xbox with Lincoln, as well as watching other shows such as “My Hero Academia.” When he has the energy, he also loves fishing and swimming.
Both through Kamp KACE and other avenues, Jackson has connected with other children facing cancer diagnoses. He is online pen pals with a girl who is also undergoing chemotherapy, as well as with a boy in Fargo who recently had a tumor discovered. The Bergs say having connections with other children who know what Jackson is going through is helpful, both for Jackson to have peers facing similar challenges and for his peers to also have Jackson’s support.
As the family navigates the uncertain road ahead, they find solace in their faith and the unwavering support of their community. They are determined to not only help Jackson through his own battle but to also reach out and support other families facing similar challenges.
For the Berg family, the journey ahead may be long and arduous, but with the love and support of their community, they are confident that they will emerge stronger and more resilient than ever before. Wherever Jackson Berg steps, forward or backward, on the metaphorical stairwell, he knows that his friends and family will be there with him for every step.
For those wanting to help support the Bergs’ GoFundMe, donations of any amount are accepted at https://www.gofundme.com/f/cancer-sucks-jacksons-journey. For those unable to contribute financially, the Bergs said any other form of support, whether it be a meal or mowing the lawn, would be appreciated, but that the thing everyone needs the most are prayers.
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