07/16/2026
Please help and share! This is a friend of one of my Guardian families! It’s a simple cheek swab. Let’s get Jack the perfect match! 🙏 ❤️
Just a few months ago, 5-year-old Jack Palms of East Greenwich was like any other little boy. He loved building with Legos, playing football, reading books, learning guitar, and making his family laugh.
Then, everything changed.
What started as unexplained bruising quickly turned into every parent’s worst nightmare. Jack was rushed to Hasbro Children’s Hospital, where doctors discovered he had a rare bone marrow failure disorder. In the weeks that followed, he survived two brain hemorrhages, underwent multiple emergency surgeries, and spent weeks in the Pediatric ICU.
Today, Jack is defying the odds. He’s talking again. He’s standing again. Every day brings another milestone as he works through physical, occupational, and speech therapy surrounded by the love and support of his family.
Now, his journey depends on something only one person can provide.
In the coming weeks, Jack is expected to undergo a bone marrow transplant, but first, he needs a matching donor.
Because Jack is an only child, he doesn’t have a brother or sister who could be a potential match. Like nearly 70% of patients who need a bone marrow transplant, he’s relying on the kindness of a complete stranger.
The good news is that becoming a potential donor is easier than most people realize.
If you’re between 18 and 35 years old, you can request a free at-home cheek swab kit. It takes just a few minutes, and even if you’re not Jack’s match, you could be the person who saves someone else’s life.
More than 1,100 Rhode Islanders have already stepped up to join the donor registry because of Jack’s story. His family hopes even more people will register, whether they’re a match for Jack or another patient still waiting for a lifesaving transplant.
❤️ To request a free swab kit, find an upcoming swab drive, or learn more about Jack’s story, visit the link in our