University of Southern California (USC) football legend Jake Olson’s 1-year-old son is marking a new milestone in his journey with a rare eye cancer.
Rowan Olson recently rang the bell at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) to mark the end of his treatment after being diagnosed with retinoblastoma — the same cancer his own father was diagnosed with and lost his vision to, according to Fox 11 Los Angeles.
Retinoblastoma is a rare eye cancer that originates in the retina and usually affects children under the age of 4, according to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Rowan was diagnosed with the cancer in both of his eyes in January 2025, just days after he was born, according to Fox 11.
He was tested for retinoblastoma due to his family history, and doctors immediately detected tumors smaller than a millimeter, per the outlet.
Rowan’s mother, Audrey Olson, told Fox 13 that her son’s diagnosis was “gut-wrenching.”
“It was just devastating to realize that he’s going to have to go through some of the things I went through,” Jake added.
After Rowan was diagnosed, he began chemotherapy and laser treatments to combat the cancer, with specialized care and treatment requiring the family to fly back and forth from Florida to California, per Fox 13.
Many of the same medical staff members at CHLA who treated Jake when he was diagnosed with retinoblastoma decades ago, including Dr. Rima Jubran, also treated his son this time around. Despite losing his eyesight to cancer, Jake would go on to make history as the first completely blind Division I football player for the USC Trojans, per Fox 13.
Thanks to groundbreaking medical advances allowing doctors to intervene and treat patients earlier, Rowan has been able to keep his vision.
More than a year after treatment began, doctors at CHLA confirmed that the toddler’s eye cancer was inactive after conducting a test that uses fluid from inside the eye to determine if the cancer is active or inactive.
“I really do hope he takes in every second of his life, appreciating the gift he has of eyesight,” Jake said of his son following the completion of his treatment.
As for how parents can spot if their child has retinoblastoma, doctors say a simple flash photo can help detect the early warning signs of the cancer. They said parents should look out for a white glow in the pupil instead of the typical “red eye” in the photo and enlarged pupils or sudden changes in vision, per Fox 13.
If parents notice either of these signs, they should contact a doctor immediately, as early detection is vital for being able to treat the cancer and help their child retain their eyesight, per the outlet.