Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research

Meet Jarrett

Jarrett was a son, a brother, a friend, a gifted student, and an athlete who had a smile that could brighten up any room. He was a role model to all who knew him displaying a calm maturity in the face of impossible odds. Jarrett was diagnosed with one of the most deadly forms of cancer, malignant melanoma in 2002. When asked how he was doing, his standard answer was “I’m good”, accompanied by a brilliant smile, even when he was not.

Jarrett was fiercely competitive both on and off the field. On the field, Jarrett played the “big three” sports: football, basketball, and baseball. Quarterback, point guard, and left fielder are the three positions that Jarrett held with pride and at the time of his death, Jarrett was ranked in the top five percent of his class.

Jarrett’s battle began when he was just 13 years old. A flat freckle mole suddenly turned black and ugly. No one was more shocked than the dermatologist who removed it, when the pathology report came back: “malignant melanoma.” Jarrett underwent surgery and a sentinel node biopsy. The lymph nodes that were removed were declared “cancer free”. Jarrett was Stage 1 with a ninety-five percent survival rate. But in 2004 an enlarged lymph node was discovered directly under the original scar line. It was removed and found to contain a melanoma tumor that was channeling out of the lymph node. Jarrett was now Stage 3 and his chance of survival was at fifty-nine percent, with treatment. In October of 2005, Jarrett’s CT scan showed two masses in his right lung. Melanoma again! His survival rate was slashed to a mere two percent. Jarrett and his family rallied the troops and raged a fierce battle but nothing could stop the cancer. Finally, on February 22, 2006 melanoma claimed 17 year old Jarrett’s life but not his spirit.

Jarrett’s quick wit, his loyalty, his very presence will forever be missed and mourned for. Please remember Jarrett Boston—a short life, well lived & well loved.