Kids & Family

Tufts Lacrosse Team 'Brings Joy and Life Back' to Woburn First Grader

Now in remission from cancer, Woburn's Jacob Beranger was drafted by the Tufts University men's lacrosse team on Friday afternoon.

Seven-year-old Jacob Beranger may have acted shy. He may have only cracked his first smile when it was announced there were chicken fingers upstairs. But don't let him fool you - Friday was one of the most exciting days of his young life.

"You’re bringing the joy and life back into him," said Beranger's mother at a press conference announcing that her son had been added as a member of the Tufts University men's lacrosse team. "It’s a special moment, and this is a great thing you’re doing for him."

The Friday event was organized by Tufts and Team IMPACT, putting a smile on the face of a child who at just seven years old is already in remission from cancer.

Beranger was announced as an honorary member of the Class of 2025 at the press conference. He was then given his own Tufts jersey before the team took him down into the locker room to find a locker with his name, his jersey hanging in it and a helmet of his own inside. He then enjoyed a pizza party with the team that has adopted him as one of his own in recent months.

"This truly is as special of a day as we’ve ever had," said Tufts head coach Mike Daly. "Toughness is a huge thing we look for in recruiting. This guy is tough, competitive, and I love being around him. Today you have 50 new brothers. And we’re going to help you kick cancer’s butt."

Beranger is certainly on his way to kicking cancer's butt, though it hasn't been an easy road. When he was three years old, the Woburn resident was diagnosed with high risk neuroblastoma - a cancer that develops in the nerve tissue. Initial scans showed a large tumor in his abdomen and a second tumor in his chest.

At a young age, Beranger was forced to undergo six months of chemotherapy before he received a bone marrow transplant. As a result of the aggressive chemotherapy, Beranger's organs began to shut down, his lungs filled with fluid, and he experienced internal bleeding.

As a result, Beranger was placed into a coma where he stayed for two months as he healed. Remarkably, the seven-year-old is now in remission and is attending school this year for the first time.

In recent months the Tufts lacrosse team has adopted Beranger as one of their own. They took him Trick-or-Treating last month and have welcomed him to the university to play video games. He's one of the guys, so Friday only made his place on the team official.

"It’s totally amazing for them to take the time out of their busy day and do this for him," said Joanne Beranger, who said days like Friday help Jacob regain some of the time that he lost while spending countless hours and days focused on fighting cancer. "He's learning how to be a kid. I know there are going to be many more years of all good things, and this is just the beginning."


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