Jacob was diagnosed with Pre-B ALL on May 17, 2011 at the age of 9. Though missing a negative MRD (Minimal Residual Disease) number upon completing the induction phase of treatment, the doctor was not concerned. He still professes that Jacob has an excellent chance for a cure. However, we needed to push his road map into the high risk category, since his chance for relapse is greater. Jacob followed through with consolidation with little pain except for the constant IV lines, so in early August, he had a port placed, which was the best invention ever. Now the nurses can access his port with some EMLA cream and he doesn't feel anything. (He still covers his port when they listen to his heart during exams, "just in case they forget where it is.")

In late August of 2011, we had a setback that was life threatening. On a beautiful summer day in between stages of chemo, Jacob was riding his bike and slipped on the pedal and got a small cut on the back of his left ankle. I mean this was so small it was similar to a razor cut while shaving. Two days later, Jacob developed a fever of a 101.5 and according to protocol, off we went to the hospital. While in the ER and upon examination, the doctors noticed the small cut and asked about it. When my wife and I looked at it, the size tripled and it was red and irritated and now infected. After being admitted, we found out that it was infected with a mold, and that it was an emergency. In 2 hours, they removed the skin and muscle down to the tendon to about the size of a orange. It was incredible to say the least. The surgery went excellent and the doctors were pleased to see the wide margins. This was to stop the infection for two reasons – from going into his blood and becoming septic, and going into his muscle or bone so he did not have to lose his leg. One day later, the doctors did a chest CT because he still had a fever, and they found it had moved to his lungs. Now it became even more serious, because he was still neutropenic. He received a granulcyte transfusion and shots of GM-CSF within the next day. His counts finally returned, he became fever free and began to eat and drink. Our hospital stay was about 41 days in total. During one of those days, a little boy about 5 asked Jacob to be his best friend. Jacob without missing a beat said, "no problem, I'll look out for you!" My son was in a dangerous situation and he did not think of himself but of this scared little boy who had just been admitted. I was never more proud of him for helping others.

Jacob is a high honor roll student and continues his studies at home with the help of our school district. They come for 6 hours a week and have been beyond excellent about being flexible, based on his chemotherapy schedule and when he is feeling well.

Over the past several months, Jacob has gone through delayed intensification with high dose Methotrexate, missed Thanksgiving and has not been in school with his friends, but he said to me, "let's get Jonah (my younger son) some good gifts for Christmas, he has been through a lot!" It is his thoughts of others that inspire me, and that we can look back at this years from now and give forward to others who need just as we have, financially, and emotionally. His prognosis is very good and he is responding well to treatment. As Jacob says," I am not sick...I just have cancer." He has been an inspiration for how he handles the chemotherapy and continues to help others.
 
Written by Matthew Andrew, Jacob’s Dad
January 2012