81-year-old grandmother turns Minecraft into lifeline for grandson battling cancer

Elderly grandmother learns Minecraft to support teen grandson’s cancer care

An 81-year-old grandmother has captured hearts online after starting a Minecraft YouTube channel to help pay for her teenage grandson’s cancer treatment.

The woman, known online as @GrammaCrackers, began playing the popular video game after spending long days at the hospital with her 17-year-old grandson, Jack, who has been undergoing intensive chemotherapy for more than a year. Wanting a way to comfort him and escape the stress of treatment, she decided to learn the game he loved.

What began as a bonding activity soon grew into something much larger. Encouraged by family, she launched a YouTube channel and started livestreaming her gameplay. Viewers quickly connected with her warmth, humor and determination, and her channel gained rapid traction.

According to videos shared widely on social media, including by Instagram page Pubity, the grandmother has earned more than $35,000 through the channel. She has said the money is being used to cover medical expenses not fully paid by insurance.

“My grandson Jack has been in hardcore chemo for well over a year,” she explains during one livestream. “The expenses that aren’t covered by insurance are something my family is trying to address, and this is where the money from this channel will go.”

Her channel has now amassed over 180,000 subscribers, despite having only a small number of videos uploaded so far. The story has drawn widespread praise online, with many users applauding her effort and wishing her grandson a full recovery.

At the same time, some commenters have pointed to the story as a reflection of broader healthcare challenges, questioning why families must turn to online platforms to afford life-saving treatment.

Still, for many viewers, the grandmother’s story stands as a powerful example of love, resilience and the unexpected ways technology can bring people together during moments of crisis.