Jacki’s Cancer Didn’t Win—Now Let’s Make Sure No One’s Does

Today, Jacki Barron is a mom of three, a proud Bubbe, and likes to be the life of every party. Whether she’s planning a themed event with matching plates and balloons, celebrating a holiday with an abundance of food, or just enjoying her time with family and friends, Jacki brings joy wherever she goes.

But behind her bright spirit and larger-than-life personality is a powerful story of survival—the family who helped her through—and the science that made it possible.

In 2006, Jacki was diagnosed with breast cancer at 51 years old. Sammi, her youngest daughter, recalls being at summer camp when she found out. “It was my first year as a counselor, and I knew something wasn’t right. She called to tell me, but true to her form, she wanted me to stay at camp because it was my happy place, and didn’t want me to miss out.”

After treatment, the family hoped the worst was behind them. But two years later, the cancer returned – this time it metastasized to Jacki’s liver. Faced with this grim diagnosis and possibly only months to live, Jacki and her husband Bruce turned to leading cancer expert Dr. Steven Rosen who then was Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and is now Executive Vice President at City of Hope. Thanks to cutting-edge care and a targeted treatment plan fueled by research, Jacki has been in remission for more than 15 years.

The support of family—and life’s cherished moments, both big and small — carried the Barrons through their hardest times. And it continues to sustain them today.

For Sammi, it’s moments like these that matter most: “One night, when my Mom was sick and had no appetite, we were watching TV together around 10:30 PM. Suddenly, she said she had a craving for Superdawg’—a well-known hot dog drive-through in Chicago. So excited that she wanted one of her favorite foods again, my dad jumped up and told us all to get in the car, and we got hot dogs in our pajamas. It was just a little moment, but it meant everything.”

Emma, Jacki and Bruce’s oldest daughter, is grateful that Jacki has been by her side for life’s biggest milestones. “My mother walked me down the aisle at my wedding, and she was there to support me throughout my journey to becoming a mom. The most beautiful gift is watching my parents make my two children happy beyond words.”

Jamie, the couple’s middle daughter, looks forward to making more memories on family vacations. “My mom has always had a bucket list of places she wanted to visit, and we have been so fortunate to have more time to make our way through the list. Two destinations that stand out the most were our safari trip to Africa and wildlife cruise in the Galapagos.” The family also just celebrated Jacki’s 70th birthday on a Caribbean cruise, complete with one of Jacki’s favorite things — matching t-shirts.

A key part of the program were biannual symposiums in both Israel and at City of Hope in California to review the progress of the research projects. At the first symposium in November 2017, Jacki posed for a picture with the two people who are the reasons why she’s here today; her oncologist Dr. Steve Rosen and Dr. Arthur Riggs, a City of Hope researcher involved in the discovery of the lifesaving treatment Herceptin, which saved Jacki’s life.

“It was a very moving and emotional moment for Jacki to stand between these two pillars of science and medicine who saved her life,” Bruce says. “I will never forget the feelings of love, gratitude and blessings that Jacki and our family felt being there together at that moment with Drs. Rosen and Riggs.”

The Barrons know that ICRF’s scientists are paving the way for even more lifesaving discoveries just like this one. They want all families to feel the same gratitude.

This Mother’s Day, the family will celebrate as they always do—with brunch and an abundance of laughter and love. They’ll celebrate knowing that research gave them something truly priceless: more time with Jacki. More time to celebrate holidays, enjoy special meals, and to travel. More time for Jacki to spend with Bruce, their daughters, and their precious grandchildren, Gordy and Ruthy.

“If I’ve learned anything from this experience, it’s that with the support of family, you can get through anything,” says Sammi. “We got through it by showing up for each other. Despite the challenges, Mom never stopped living life and pressing forward—she set the example for all of us.”

Research works. While there are no guarantees in life, the Barron family knows how lucky they are to be winning their fight against cancer. But that’s not enough. They want to ensure that everyone wins. They want everyone to have more time.

That’s why they give back – and why your support of ICRF truly matters.

This Mother’s Day, give the gift of more time.

All gifts between now and Sunday, May 11, 2025 will be doubled, thanks to an anonymous donor.