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As we grieve the death of 19-year-old Jack Hoffman, the Nebraska Huskers superfan, let's take a look at his father Andy Hoffman's legacy.
Andy Hoffman had been fighting the fight for his son Jack Hoffman, who was diagnosed with brain cancer when he was just 5 years old. The walls came crashing down for the Hoffman family when in July 2020, Andy Hoffman was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme, reports ESPN.
After his diagnosis, Andy Hoffman sought multiple medical opinions and fought through two strokes to return home from the Mayo Clinic. With unwavering determination, he focused on two goals: raising as much money as possible for the Team Jack Foundation (which he founded) and cherishing every moment with his wife, Bri, and their children, Jack, Ava, and Reese. Bri, in a statement to ESPN, expressed her grief at being struck by two major tragedies:
"I was mostly thinking... Why is this happening again? Sometimes I wonder... Like, a lot of families are affected by a brain tumor. But how many do you see are affected by two?"
As Andy’s condition worsened, Jack took on the role of caregiver, helping his father after school. In February 2021, Andy Hoffman contracted COVID-19 but quickly recovered with the help of a monoclonal antibody infusion. Unfortunately, an MRI taken shortly after revealed that his cancer had spread, leading to a rapid decline in his health and eventual death on 1 March 2021.
Bri also noted in the ESPN interview that when there's no hereditary link to cancers in the same family, it is usually environmental factors to blame. She said:
"It's very hard to pinpoint because the tumors are rare," she says, "and if it's something like water or pesticides or pollution or radon or whatever it is, generally you need more than even just one household to have the problem. You need to start seeing more of a community problem."
"There's not a clear environmental relationship. One of the few factors, unfortunately, that we know can lead to brain tumors is a prior history to radiation. And neither of them, before all this started, had any radiation exposure that we know of."
Andy Hoffman's legacy
Andy and Jack Hoffman, though their lives were tragically short, left an indelible mark on the world through their resilience, advocacy, and enduring legacy. Both battled brain cancer with immense courage and helped create the Team Jack Foundation, a beacon of hope for countless children and families facing similar struggles.
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Andy’s unwavering dedication to helping children with brain cancer was unparalleled. He traveled across the United States, passionately advocating for increased funding and awareness of pediatric brain cancer research. His efforts took him from meeting President Barack Obama in the Oval Office to appearing on prominent national platforms such as Fox News, CNN, ESPN, ABC World News, and Good Morning America.
Under Andy’s leadership, the Team Jack Foundation has raised over $8.4 million, funding critical research aimed at improving treatments and outcomes for children with brain cancer. His tireless work not only honored his son Jack’s fight but also inspired a nationwide movement for change. Andy and Jack Hoffman’s legacy serves as a powerful reminder of how even the shortest lives can create lasting, meaningful change.
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