Jackie ‘O’ Henderson was faced with a very emotional surprise during her book signing in Penrith, Sydney on Saturday.
The radio host, 49, was left ‘overwhelmed and emotional’ when she met 20-year-old fan Ziad whose life she helped save in 2016.
Only 12-years-old at the time, Ziad had been diagnosed with a brain tumour when Jackie and her co-host Kyle Sandilands helped raise $150,000 for his surgery.
Eight years later, the young boy, now a grown man, made an unexpected appearance at Jackie’s book signing to thank her for her part in his recovery.
Their reunion was caught on camera as the media personality paused her six-hour-long book signing to embrace Ziad and his mother.
‘Just seeing him today, he’s grown up and he’s happy and healthy and thriving and living such a great life,’ Jackie said after meeting Ziad once more.
Jackie ‘O’ Henderson, 49, was faced with a very emotional surprise during her book signing in Penrith, Sydney on Saturday. Pictured with fans
‘Knowing that all our [radio] listeners came together to make that happen was really beautiful,’ she added.
Ziad appeared on The Kyle and Jackie O Show back in 2016 as his family sought help to raise funds which would pay for his life-saving surgery.
Within 10 minutes of appearing on the KIIS FM radio show, Ziad’s story had touched the hearts of listeners who donated more than $150,000 to help remove his tumour.
‘The power of their community and platform is why my boy is standing here right now,’ Ziad’s mother said during her reunion with Jackie.
Jackie recalled the story of Ziad in her memoir The Whole Truth, saying it ‘never left her’ as she often wondered how he was faring in life.
The radio star also confessed to struggling with an addiction to prescription pills, but has recently marked two years of sobriety.
She told how she spent 28 days in the famous rehab clinic, The Betty Ford Center, in November 2022 after struggling with addiction during the Covid lockdown.
In a candid extract, Jackie revealed that at the height of her addiction, she took around 10-12 Stilnox/Ambien sleeping pills and 24 Panadeine Forte painkillers a day.
The radio host was left ‘overwhelmed and emotional’ when she met 20-year-old fan Ziad (pictured) whose life she helped save in 2016
Only 12-years-old at the time, Ziad had been diagnosed with a brain tumour when Jackie and her co-host Kyle Sandilands helped raise $150,000 for his surgery
Jackie’s ‘best friend’ Pip Edwards recently shared how she stood by the side of the radio host amidst revelations that she battled drug addiction.
The activewear entrepreneur, 44, told Stellar Magazine on Saturday that Jackie’s honesty inspires her.
‘I think for her it was extremely healing and it was time for her to stand in her truth. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. And to all the critics out there, f**k off. Sorry,’ Pip said.
‘The night Jackie released the story on radio, I went to her house to be with her and give her a big hug.’
The P.E Nation founder said the pair are ‘spiritually aligned’ and share an incredibly close friendship.
After overcoming her addiction struggles, Jackie revealed how she marked her two years of sobriety on Thursday, November 14, in a milestone achievement.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia at Marie Claire’s Women of the Year Awards recently, Jackie revealed how she marked the occasion with her friends.
‘I think we will go out for dinner and celebrate, for sure,’ Jackie proudly shared.
