Jack enjoys a knock out night with local boxer

Six-year-old Jack has had a difficult start to life, having to suffer through numerous surgeries after being born with half a heart. However, Daniel has given the young boy a real boost after inviting him to join him for a sparring session.

Jack was born on January 2, 2007 by emergency caesarean. Jack suffers from a rare and complex heart defect known as hypo-plastic left heart syndrome, which in short means half a heart but by no means, half a life. The right side ventricle did not form during development resulting in Jack having to undergo a series of life-saving operations.

Jack is now six years and three months old – his first two days of life were spent in the specialist neonatal unit in the Royal Victoria Hospital before being transported by air ambulance to Birmingham Children’s Hospital to undergo his first major open heart surgery at just three days old.

Jack then returned to Birmingham Children’s Hospital again at six months old, undergoing his second major open heart surgery on June 28, 2007 – spending a total of four weeks there and a further two weeks at the Clark Clinic situated in the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. Jack had his final major open heart surgery on June 28, 2012 – exactly five years to the date from his second surgery and also the 150th anniversary of the Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Jack has recently discovered a love for boxing as a result of one of his biggest events yet when he walked Tyson Fury into the ring at the Odyssey arena in Belfast in December 2012.

“He has become a little celebrity in the boxing world, which he loves, although he will never be able to box due to his condition, he can still have all the fun of doing everything else,” explained his dad Stephen.

“Jack has walked out for several boxers and has also met and sparred with Carl Frampton, the new European Champion, and his manager former World Champion Barry McGuigan.

“Jack has also met Anthony Fitzgerald the pride of Dublin and most recently Belfast’s very own Martin Rogan,” added dad Stephen.

Team Jack’s latest conquest was meeting local boxing sensation Daniel ‘Insane’ McShane at his barbers shop, ‘Scissors’ in Crumlin, along with his team mate and proprietor Andy Longford.

“The pair really hit things off big style,” continued Stephen. “Whilst Daniel was showing Jack his boxing medals, certificates, gloves and memorabilia it was as if they’d been best buddies for years.

“It’s so great to see Jack so happy after all he’s been through in his short life,” he added.

Dad Stephen, who contacted Daniel through his personal Facebook page, said all he asked for was ten minutes or so with Daniel at his Belfast Kronk professional gym. The up and coming star took things to a new level by providing Jack and dad Stephen with VIP ringside tickets and a great night of boxing.

Daniel, who was fighting in the homecoming fights in the Fairways Hotel, Dundalk, gave Jack and his dad Stephen a real night to remember by getting behind them and their charity, with Daniel and Jack both wearing their ‘Hands Up’ T-shirts into the ring, as well as after the fight.

The Children’s Heartbeat Trust is trying to highlight their ‘Hands Up’ campaign to retain and enhance the currently under threat children’s heart surgery in Belfast, which ‘Team Jack’ has backed from the start.

Daniel had a friendly warm up with Jack before the fight, coming out and winning his third professional bout with a knock down in the first round and a knock out early in to the second round.

Daniel’s mum Lisa has also got behind ‘Team Jack’ and both Daniel and his mum will be collecting and trying to raise as much money and spread awareness of CHD (congenital heart disease) in children as possible through Studio 55 Hair Salon in Belfast and Scissors Barbers in Crumlin.

Jack and Stephen, Team Jack, would like to extend their gratitude and are very thankful for giving Jack one of his best nights in his life so far and also helping to raise awareness for the ‘Hands Up’ Campaign.