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Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson surprises Massachusetts boy with rare health challenges

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Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson surprises Massachusetts boy with rare health challenges


Stuck at Boston Children’s Hospital, facing unimaginable health challenges, a 12-year-old Chelmsford boy received hope from Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson.

Henderson sent a video to Jack Jolie, rooting for the bubbly youngster to overcome all the obstacles stacked up against him. It was just 10 seconds, but Jack says the message means the world to him.

“What’s up, Jack? TreVeyon Henderson here, man,” the promising rookie says in the video. “Man, I hope you get better. I just want to let you know that I am praying for you, man. God bless, man.”

Jack received the video on Jan. 2. Eleven days later, he was discharged from the hospital and headed home. The boy will soon be evaluated for a liver transplant, as he is battling internal bleeding from portal hypertension.

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On Sunday, Jack and his entire family will have their eyes glued to the television as the Patriots face the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. This is New England’s first championship game that Jack will fully remember, and he hopes that Henderson, his favorite player, “finds the outside” for a long rushing touchdown.

Win or lose, Jack says he will always root for Henderson and that the running back may not be aware of the full magnitude of his video of encouragement.

“It helps me a lot,” Jack told the Herald via phone ahead of Super Bowl weekend. “I know that they are there for me, and I know that everyone is here for me. It definitely is big.”

Jack’s mother, Meghan Jolie, says her son has the “best support system there is,” with a large family, a big group of friends, and “really understanding” teachers. The network has grown to include Henderson and the Patriots organization.

“It kind of brings it full circle,” the mother said of Henderson’s video. “It doesn’t take much to help, especially with these celebrity athletes. For them, to say ‘Send a 15-second video,’ hopefully it doesn’t take a whole lot out of their day to do, but it really meant a lot going through this type of time.”

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As a 2-year-old in 2015, Jack was diagnosed with a rare form of severe combined immunodeficiency, which doctors describe as a life-threatening genetic disorder where infants are born with little to no immune system.

Jack then received a bone marrow transplant to combat the diagnosis, but his immune system rejected it. Over the years, the youngster has suffered from symptoms of graft-versus-host disease: scarring issues with his eyes, lung and liver disease, among others, his mother said.

Over the past few months, Jack has been admitted to Boston Children’s Hospital several times and spent time in between the intensive care unit and regular care. He was home less than a handful of nights between Dec. 20 and Jan. 13.

“It’s a lot of waiting and seeing,” Meghan Jolie told the Herald. “We take every day as it comes, deal with what we have to, and figure it out.”

Through it all, Jack has turned into a Patriots superfan. He watches more games than not, even when hospitalized, and has become knowledgeable about football and the NFL.

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Proof: “I am really shocked by how much Mike Vrabel was able to change the team from four wins,” Jack said of New England’s head coach. “Now, they are in the stinkin’ Super Bowl.”

“The best part is that we have beaten a lot of great defenses,” the youngster said of the Patriots’ Super Bowl run, becoming the first team in NFL history to defeat three top-five defenses. “If we just get rolling in the beginning, we have a chance to win this one and get banner 7 here in Foxboro.”

Jack and his family attended the Week 15 loss to Buffalo. Despite New England’s 10-game winning streak ending, the young fan gained an ultimate VIP gameday experience, including club seats and pregame field passes.

Jack’s mother’s boyfriend, William DiTullio, applied for the opportunity, with the Patriots selecting the family for the experience.

While on the field, star cornerback Christian Gonzalez spotted Jack and threw a ball over to him.  The family then went over by the tunnel where the Patriots are introduced, and Jack tried his best to get Henderson’s attention, but couldn’t.

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“Jack has a very big personality, but his voice didn’t quite travel,” his mother said, chuckling.

In the loss, Henderson recorded two rushing touchdowns of over 50 yards. “We were going wild,” Meghan Jolie said.

Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez tosses a ball to superfan Jack Jolie before a Week 15 game against Buffalo at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro. (Contributed/Jolie family)

Days after the game, Jack was admitted to the hospital. DiTullio shared Jack’s story with Stacey James, asking the Patriots’ vice president of communications whether Henderson could send Jack a little video.

A few days later, James emailed DiTullio, saying, “Hopefully this will brighten Jack’s spirits and let him know that we’re all thinking about him.”

“That stuff always thrills me,” DiTullio said of the video. “I just feel like there’s not a lot of that in the world today, and too many people are just self-absorbed.”

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“They could have easily just taken the request,” he added, “and said, ‘We get a dozen of these a day, we can’t fulfill them all.’ I know how much he loves TreVeyon.”

Jack quickly responded to Henderson’s message, thanking him for the video.

“It really meant a lot, and I hope you guys have fun and do your best in the playoffs. … Maybe once I get out of Boston Children’s Hospital, we can maybe meet up sometime and play catch just because you’re my favorite player.”

Henderson responded to the video with a message on X the evening before the Patriots’ Divisional Round game against the Texans: “Glad you are headed home Jack! God bless,” the running back wrote.

Jack Jolie is a Patriots superfan and faces unimaginable health challenges. (Contributed/Jolie family)
Jack Jolie is a Patriots superfan and faces unimaginable health challenges. (Contributed/Jolie family)



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Massachusetts

Smoke from North Attleborough fire visible for miles

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Smoke from North Attleborough fire visible for miles


Fire broke out at an apartment building in North Attleborough, Massachusetts, on Monday afternoon, sending a column of smoke high into the air.

NBC affiliate WJAR-TV reports the smoke was visible from miles away from the building on Juniper Road.

More details were not immediately available.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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Life Care Center of Raynham earns deficiency‑free state inspection

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Life Care Center of Raynham earns deficiency‑free state inspection


Life Care Center of Raynham has received a deficiency‑free inspection result from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, a distinction awarded to a small share of the state’s licensed nursing homes, according to a community announcement.

The inspection was conducted as part of the state’s routine, unannounced nursing home survey process overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. These comprehensive, multi‑day inspections evaluate multiple aspects of facility operations, including staffing levels, quality of care, medication management, cleanliness, food service and resident rights.

State survey records show that Life Care Center of Raynham met required standards during its most recent standard survey, with no deficiencies cited, based on publicly available state data.

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The announcement states that fewer than 8% of Massachusetts nursing homes achieve deficiency‑free survey results. That figure could not be independently verified through state or federal data and is attributed to the announcement.

In addition to the state survey outcome, the facility is listed as a five‑star provider for quality measures on the federal Medicare Care Compare website. The five‑star quality measure rating reflects above‑average performance compared with other nursing homes nationwide, according to federal rating methodology.

Officials said the inspection results reflect ongoing compliance with state and federal standards designed to protect resident health and safety. According to the announcement, the outcome is attributed to staff performance and internal quality practices.

This story was created by Dave DeMille, ddemille@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.

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Brian Shortsleeve 'On The Record' about GOP run for governor of Massachusetts

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Brian Shortsleeve 'On The Record' about GOP run for governor of Massachusetts


Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Shortsleeve joins “On the Record” to discuss his case for the corner office, the war in Iran and Massachusetts’ $63 billion budget. Hosts Ed Harding and Sharman Sacchetti also press him on a ballot question that would cut the state income tax rate.



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