Jackie is a very sweet and giving 9 year old. She is a 2 time cancer survivor. She had AML (acute myeloid leukemia) initially diagnosed Christmas Eve 2006, relapsed 02/08/08 and had a stem cell transplant on 05/12/09. With the stem cell transplant came an auto immune disease and more recently she is dealing with neuropathy. Although she deals with constant pain, she wants to give back to her community. She has started a Pay It Forward with Jackie organization that donates stockings to kids in the hospitals at Christmas time, as well as jacket drives (when she lived in NY). Jackie's drive and desire to give back to her community has inspired a whole school to join her in her efforts. The junior high that I teach at joined Jackie's stocking drive last year and we were able to fill over 150 stockings, enough to take care of all of the children in PCH. Our students were so inspired by what Jackie goes through everyday and yet still gives back and fights through the pain to help others. They felt that if a 9 year old can do what she is doing, then all of them can make a difference as well. Jackie is an inspiration to all that meet her. She is well deserving of this award.

Signed,
Janine Hernandez