Watch Chris Tell His Story Here
Christopher Jackson’s Journey from Cancer Patient to Cancer Doctor
Life Rewritten at 14
At Ronald McDonald House New York, we witness how a diagnosis can completely alter a family's life overnight. For Christopher Jackson, this change arrived on an autumn day when school, soccer, and ordinary teenage plans were abruptly interrupted by an extraordinary test of endurance.
“I was diagnosed when I was 14 years old,” Chris says plainly — the cadence of the memory measured, like the steady steps of a training run. The diagnosis was acute lymphoblastic leukemia. What could have been a private household crisis became the first chapter of a life that would continue to intertwine with medicine, community, and running.
Chris recalls the subtle physical signs that preceded the diagnosis. As a soccer player who prided himself on endurance, he suddenly found himself winded during sprints. The unusual breathlessness led to testing, hospital visits, and eventually a catheter placed for weekly chemotherapy.
“I had a catheter in my chest to receive my weekly chemo,” he says. The catheter served as both a lifeline and a symbol of his difference preventing him from playing contact sports during the initial, intense months of treatment and reshaping the trajectory of his teenage years.
RMH-NY Vs. The Ripple Effect
When a child is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, the family's routines, work, siblings' schooling, and every aspect of their life are disrupted. Ronald McDonald House New York’s (RMH-NY) work is built on this ripple effect.
RMH-NY’s mission is to stabilize as many of life’s ripples as possible: providing a bed near the hospital for the whole family, warm meals, transportation to treatment, emotional support, and community, allowing families to focus on what matters most; ensuring they stay together to support their child.
Visualizing Victory
During the early months of chemotherapy, Chris developed private rituals to stay grounded combining imagery, keepsakes, and running as a way to regain control.
Christopher held specific objects close at night: a friend’s military dog tags, a prayer shawl knit by his grandmother, a rosary. These items anchored him, but it was his nightly visualization practice that became his primary coping mechanism.
“I would visualize my cancer cells in my blood vessels being eradicated, popping,” he explains.
This image, almost comic-book-like in its simplicity, was powerful medicine for his mind. It helped break down the three-and-a-half-year treatment plan into smaller, manageable goals. He also imagined climbing a mountain, one switchback at a time. This habit of breaking down a monumental challenge into achievable segments is a recurring theme in his life: from chemo to cross-country, from residency to the marathon course.
At RMH NY, we witness children and families creating similar habits to cope with fear, ritualizing bedtime to regain control, or inventing small celebrations to brighten long days. The psychosocial aspect of care is as crucial as clinical care; it’s part of the compassionate, family-focused, and holistic care our House provides.
Reclaiming as He Ran
Due to the catheter and the risks associated with contact sports, Chris couldn’t play soccer during the initial, intensive phase of his treatment. However, he still attended games and practices. Instead of playing, he ran the sideline loops, gradually building endurance and, more importantly, a mental pattern.
This is where running transcended being just a physical hobby and became a tool for emotional survival. His father, an early-morning distance runner in Phoenix, had always exemplified the practice. Chris's exposure to distance running deepened when he couldn’t play soccer; running became not only acceptable but also encouraged.
“During those first nine months, I was receiving weekly chemo… I would go to practice or games with my teammates and jog around the sideline. I think that was my first introduction to running.”
The sideline jogging was a quiet, personal return to movement. It also marked the beginning: running became a symbol of resilience and a practice that shaped his identity. When he eventually joined the cross-country team in high school, his relationship with running had already been forged in the crucible of medical treatment, carrying the dual meaning of physical training and spiritual preparation.
A Community Rallies
A recurring theme in Chris’s story is the support of friends and family. Parents adjusted schedules, took time off work, learned to assist at home, and sometimes even administered treatment.
“My parents were both working, but they took the time to drive me to and from appointments. They even administered some chemotherapy at home without medical training,” Chris recalls.
Small acts of solidarity made a difference. When his soccer team won a tournament around the time of his diagnosis, they dedicated the trophy to him. It sat on his bedside table for a long time. He remembers a buzz-cut party where friends and teachers shaved their heads in solidarity. These gestures were not merely symbolic; they were emotional healing.
At Ronald McDonald House New York, these caring acts are part of daily life. Families staying with us experience the kind of social support Chris described — a sense of understanding, comforting rituals, and small gestures that normalize life in the hospital environment. Sometimes, this emotional support is as potent as any medication; Chris’s teenage experiences validate this truth.
Christopher was treated at Phoenix Children's Hospital as a teenager.
The Resolve to Give Back
Observing his oncologists, physicians who combined technical expertise with compassion, left a lasting impression that became a lifelong commitment.
“It was the relationship I had with my oncologists … I thought … I want to have this kind of relationship with childhood cancer patients and their families in the future,” he shares. That pause holds significance: a thought caught between memory and purpose. For Chris, the appeal wasn’t solely the science but also the human connection, the bond formed at the bedside, the ability to provide stability to families in turmoil.
He carried this purpose through high school, college, medical school, and residency. During those years, he trained, learned, and returned eventually landing at Memorial Sloan Kettering, where he would become a radiation oncologist.
“I was a bit speechless and teared up … the answer was yes, because it’s my dream job,” he recalls about the call offering him a position.
This journey from patient to physician exemplifies the mission of the House. RMH-NY families often travel for specialized care at institutions like MSK. The connection between the hospital and the House is not incidental; it’s a partnership that ensures families can be present together while their child receives top-notch treatment. Chris’s professional home at MSK is an extension of the environments where we see the greatest need for family-centered care.
The Patient Becomes the Physician
As a practicing physician, Chris’s approach is explicitly shaped by his personal experience.
“My goal as a physician is twofold. First, I want to establish strong relationships with patients and their families. Second, I aim to work on research to improve cancer treatment while reducing side effects.”
This perspective is crucial because pediatric cancer is not just a clinical issue; it’s a social one. Social determinants such as housing instability, transportation challenges, language barriers, and economic stress all impact outcomes. RMH NY exists to alleviate the most immediate of these factors by providing a stable place to stay, eat, and connect.
When Chris treats a child now, he brings more than expertise; he brings memory, empathy, and a profound understanding of the long journey of survivorship.
The Marathon as Ritual and Testimony
Chris transformed a personal practice into a public testament. Running became a ritual, and the marathon became an offering. He has run the New York City Marathon before in 2022. He faced a challenging race in unusually warm conditions, and he has returned to place this year’s race in the context of his 20th diagnosis anniversary.
“I felt the need to run this race at some point. So, I registered for the following year in 2022… it was my worst athletic experience ever… I hit a wall, suffered heat exhaustion. I ended up finishing the race about an hour behind my goal time.”
Despite setbacks, he persisted. They refined his approach. He now understands pacing, hydration, and the humility that comes from witnessing a race unfold.
This year, 20 years after his diagnosis, he runs with purpose: not just to cross the finish line but to support Ronald McDonald House New York and to stand in solidarity with families, transforming endurance into service.
“I would really like to beat 3:12… anything under 3:12 would make me really, really happy,” he shares, candid about his goals and appreciative of the effort required to achieve them.
Segmenting to Success
“When you're running a long-distance race, it's similar to taking a larger goal, like a half marathon or a marathon, which can seem daunting, and breaking it down into smaller, manageable segments, like one mile at a time. This approach makes the larger goal more achievable and also meditative.”
Christopher quickly realized that the strategies he used to navigate cancer treatment could also guide him in running long distances. As a high school sophomore facing a new cancer diagnosis, he was confronted with the daunting prospect of years of treatment ahead. While most kids might see the entire timeline and feel overwhelmed by what lay ahead, Christopher approached it differently. Just as he had done with treatment, he broke the process into manageable segments: small, achievable goals that allowed him to focus on one step at a time instead of the overwhelming whole. Each small victory became a building block, giving him confidence and momentum. He now applies the same mindset to training for a marathon, tackling the 26.2 miles one segment at a time, just as he once did with the long journey of cancer treatment.
Miles That Matter
Chris’s miles have also garnered wider recognition. He was chosen as an inaugural recipient in Citizens Bank’s Miles That Matter Awards, which highlights four marathoners whose stories and efforts deepen community impact. As part of this recognition, Citizens is providing a meaningful grant to Ronald McDonald House New York to enhance programs that support families.
The award includes a $26,200 grant donation to RMH-NY. This funding will be directed to families in need to supply meals, accommodations, and programs that ease the burden of a child’s hospitalization.
This corporate partnership exemplifies how public recognition translates into tangible support. The award shines a public spotlight on Chris’s journey and ensures that families at RMH-NY feel that spotlight in the form of resources.
A Quick Moment of Gratitude
Ronald McDonald House New York is deeply grateful to Chris for his openness, courage, and generosity in sharing his story with the world. His voice reminds us why we do what we do to celebrate resilience, hope, and the extraordinary strength that lives within every family we serve.
We’re equally thankful to every runner who chose to dedicate their miles to our mission. On a day filled with countless worthy causes, your decision to run for Ronald McDonald House New York means everything to us.
We can’t wait to get out there on Sunday, November 2nd to cheer you all on with full hearts as you power up 1st Avenue around mile 17. Every step you take helps bring compassionate care and emotional support to the families who need it most.
Above Earnings are not final and will change as we move closer to Marathon Day.
The Course Itself and Why It Matters
Chris cherishes the course, partly for the moments it creates with the city. He recalls the quiet of Verrazzano at the start — “only runners” — and then the vibrancy of Brooklyn bringing life back. The stretch down First Avenue past institutional partners holds special significance for him, where his professional and personal worlds intersect.
“If I had to choose one mile, I think it’s mile 17. It’s where you're coming down onto First Ave. … I feel a connection with MSK, and you're on a straight shot down First Ave.”
He understands that marathon spectators aren’t just cheering for a time; they’re cheering for causes, for stories like his, and for every family in need of support through a lengthy treatment regimen. For runners representing the House, each shout of “go!” translates into a meal, a night’s rest, a program.
Run, Give, Show Up
We urge readers to take two things to heart.
First: support this year’s runners. Donations to RMH-NY’s marathon fund directly provide the services families require: beds, meals, laundry, transportation, and emotional support programs that make difficult days a bit brighter. Chris’s run serves as a reminder that every mile can be transformed into tangible assistance.
Second: consider joining our team next year. The marathon transforms personal discipline into communal care. Whether you run fast or slow, maintain a steady 3:12 pace or simply walk with purpose, each mile you cover can be converted into compassionate care for a family uprooted by a child’s illness.
Chris emphasizes this sense of responsibility: “So much of childhood is that sense of support, that sense of community … you want to know that there are other kids, other families, who are experiencing what you are experiencing, and that really is invaluable.”
Laughter, Humility, and the Quiet Work of Living Through it All
Chris’s voice remains clear: survival did not shield him from doubt, nor did it diminish the importance of his work. He recalls how, as a teenager, friends and supporters made him feel included — a vital emotional lifeline. He values humor’s role in survival: the buzz-cut party, the trophy on the bedside table, the small absurdities that alleviate tension.
At RMH-NY, we believe these human details are crucial. The psychosocial services, the communal dinners, the staff who notice when a parent needs assistance; these details weave the daily experience into a humane, dignified whole.
Photo Moment: If he wasn't busy enough, Chris recently tied the knot.
Congratulations to the newly married couple!
A Future Grounded in Care and Research
Chris is determined not only to provide comfort but also to transform treatment itself. He aims to research ways to reduce treatment side effects and enhance children’s long-term quality of life.
“How do we improve cancer treatment while reducing side effects?” he asks. It’s a research agenda and a moral imperative; it calls on the scientific community to remember the child behind the medical chart and urges society to invest in the long-term well-being of survivors.
RMH-NY shares this commitment. The House’s programs alleviate the immediate burden so families can engage in research, follow-up care, and survivorship planning — all essential components for equitable long-term outcomes.
The Final Mile
Christopher Jackson’s journey, diagnosed at 14, supported by family and community, transformed by running, and redirected into medicine; embodies what RMH-NY advocates for daily: family-centered care, compassionate presence, and holistic support that amplify the value of medical advancements.
“Ronald McDonald House New York is more than a house. It’s a beacon of hope and resilience,” Chris states, transforming a physical structure into a promise.
We implore you, as a community of supporters, to uphold that promise: donate to our marathon fund now, cheer along the course in November, and contemplate running with us next year. Help us ensure that when the next family receives distressing news in a doctor’s office, this place of refuge and support will be waiting for them just a short walk from their child’s treatment.
Congratulations to everyone running on November 2nd! By stepping up to the starting line, you’ve already achieved something extraordinary; proving that courage, heart, and determination are the greatest victory of all.
Da Esperanza
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