Jake is the most amazing kid you could ever meet! Despite all he has been through he remains strong and a fighter. Jake has two older sisters who have fought alongside him throughout his journey along with his parents. Jake loves music and plays guitar, keyboard and drums. He is now a freshman in high school and maintains almost all A's.

Just one day after Jake's first birthday his parents took him to the doctor for a well-baby checkup. The pediatrician felt the grapefruit size tumor in his abdomen. The next day he was admitted to the hospital and started his battle with stage IV neuroblastoma.

Jake endured 6 rounds of intense chemo, surgery including a nephrectomy, radiation and a bone marrow transplant. At the age of 2 ½, Jake was sick, dehydrated, went into respiratory arrest and suffered a stroke. The doctors told his family he would never walk or talk again. The stroke left Jake blind in one eye and visually impaired in his good eye. When Jake was in 2nd grade his retina detached, but luckily the doctors were able to repair his retina and his sight. In 2012 his retina detached 3 times requiring multiple surgeries and this time the doctors were not able to repair his retina leaving Jake totally blind. 

Jake’s family hopes that a cure for all cancer is found and that they can find a way for Jake to see again.

On March 9, 2015, Jake will have major back surgery. The doctors will be doing a spinal fusion and inserting rods to straighten his spine. 

Jake’s mom, Mary, says: “If I had to tell a newly diagnosed family anything it would be that they are not alone. You will become real close to all the families battling this ugly disease. Cancer sucks but there is hope. Roll up your sleeves because you are in a battle of a lifetime.” 

Hero Quote: When Jake was still little his quote was "No more owies." 
 
Information provided by Mary Cohen, Jacob’s mother
February 2015