The Jacobs family was on a road trip, traveling from their home in Stockton, CA to visit family in Arizona, when Jehan’s mom noticed that her five-year-old was taking a long time to go to the bathroom and seemed to be in pain. When they arrived in Arizona, they took Jehan to the ER, where he was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and put on antibiotics. He was so miserable the family drove the 12 hours straight back to Stockton, where they were again told Jehan had a UTI. His family persistently continued to seek medical help, and finally a urologist broke the news that Jehan had embryonic rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancerous tumor, in his bladder. Jehan’s mom recounts it being the scariest day of her life when the urologist said, “I don't know how to say this any differently, but Jehan has rhabdomyosarcoma, and we need to do a biopsy and you need to admit him into the hospital today.”
 
Jehan is very curious and interested in learning, and once his family explained the procedures and treatment to him, he was very accepting. He received 40 weeks of chemotherapy and 21 days of radiation. Jehan finished his treatment protocol in June 2013. He has since had a few scary scans, but is doing well overall. 

Jehan will begin 4th grade in the fall, and his parents appreciate how accommodating the school and his teachers have been. Jehan’s parents continue to worry about what the next scan will bring, but also work hard to live a ‘normal’ life. His family wants Jehan to be able to do “regular kid stuff” and grow up to be a wonderful man without having to worry about secondary cancers and other ailments due to treatment. His mother hopes for a cure, better treatment options and greater awareness of pediatric cancer. The kids affected by cancer, she writes, “are your daughter, son, sister, brother grandchild, etc., and we really need to find a cure.”

Information provided by Gayathri Jacobs, Jehan’s mom
Updated July 2015