After more than three years of surgery, he has started kindergarten at Deloraine, but was diagnosed with autism last month.

Now five, Jacob was at Deloraine Primary School on Friday for Camp Quality’s puppet show, which is touring Tasmania this month, teaching children about cancer.

"He finished chemotherapy in September,” Jacob’s grandmother Joanne said. “It was high risk leukaemia, so it’s been pretty tough. His mum had cancer when she was young and she’s been left with some disabilities because of it.

“Jacob’s pretty much back to normal now but he’s had lots of problems with his immune system and he still doesn’t eat solids.”

In March, Jacob had his first ever birthday at home instead of in hospital.

“He was in hospital with a hernia on his first birthday and then was in hospital for the cancer the other three birthdays so his fifth birthday was the first one at home.”

Students at Deloraine Primary School learnt about cancer from Camp Quality puppets Kylie and Dean on Friday. The interactive show educates children around the country about having classmates with cancer.

“The puppet show provides invaluable education for all students; whether they are returning to school after cancer treatment, have a diagnosed parent or sibling, or simply need to learn how to be inclusive and understanding what their peers are going through,” Camp Quality chief executive ​Kylea Tink said.

The puppets also visited Launceston Christian School, Lenah Valley, Dunalley, Bowen Road, Illawarra and Oatlands primary schools, Winnaleah District High School, and Burnie Public School.