An unexpected hero emerged from Arizona last year and it was not in a hospital room or a fundraiser gala but inside the pixelated world of Minecraft. What began as a grandmother’s attempt to bond with
her grandkids soon became a viral act of love that helped change a family’s life forever.
In October, 81-year-old grandmother Sue Jacquot launched a YouTube channel called GrammaCrackers. In the channel, she posted videos of herself playing Minecraft to help raise money for her 17-year-old grandson Jack Self’s cancer treatment. At the time, the grandson was undergoing aggressive treatment for sarcoma. Today, the teenager has life-changing news. “I am cancer-free,” Jack said, adding, “I am feeling great.”
The grandmother never imagined she would become a gamer, leave alone a YouTube creator with a massive following. Her journey began earlier in the summer, when she decided to learn Minecraft simply to spend more time with her grandsons, Jack and Austin. A few months later, with growing confidence and a clear purpose, she decided to go online with the intention to ease the financial strain of the grandson’s medical care.
Her first video, a heartfelt 15-minute introduction titled The BEST START EVER, struck a chord online. The video instantly began widely circulating on social media and has since crossed half a million views. Every video on the channel includes a link to the grandson’s GoFundMe, which has raised over $42,000 so far. Meanwhile, GrammaCrackers has grown to nearly 200,000 subscribers with all proceeds going directly toward Jack’s treatment.
Grandson’s Cancer Diagnosis And Treatment
ABC 15 recently visited the family at their home in Queen Creek, Arizona, where they shared the emotional update. Jack was diagnosed with sarcoma in 2024 and endured more than 200 chemotherapy treatments. Through it all, Sue’s videos became a source of hope, not just for her family but for viewers around the world.
“I was never really curious about it, but when you have grandkids who want to interact with you, you do it,” Sue said. She also shared that the support she has received online has been overwhelming. Users have been sending prayers and uplifting messages to extend their love and express concern.
Grandmother’s Surprising Gaming Skills
Jack’s brother, Austin, admitted the family was stunned by how quickly Sue adapted to the game. “We were all mind blown that she was able to figure it out and then it just kind of went from there,” he said.
For Jack, watching the kindness unfold online was deeply moving. “It was just very sweet to watch everybody being so kind to my grandma.”
It is proof that determination and a little creativity can make a real difference.
