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Sarcomas are the forgotten cancer...there are 40+ types and most have very little research money devoted to them. As a matter of fact last year the National Cancer Institute devoted a measly $40 million to research all of them....that's it. They have very tough protocols for treatment and some types have low survival rates.
Ewing's Sarcoma has a 10 year survival of 50%....yep....that's right....Jake has a 50% chance of making it to high school. If he had been diagnosed as metastic....that would be more like 10%. There are others....some with lower survival rates.
We can change this....by donating just a little....
Do it in Jake's honor....do it for the people that will be devastated by these cancers.....do it for those that will lose their fights this year from these monsters. We can make a difference....one dollar at a time!
2. Here is an update about Jake's story in list form. Just to catch anyone up who is new to our blog :)
11/5/12- A biopsy confirmed that Jake has Ewing's Sarcoma, localized to his left tibia.
2/26/13- After 6 rounds of chemotherapy, Jake had limb salvage surgery with an allograft 9 (cadaver bone)
, two plates, and fifteen screws. He is not allowed to bear weight (a.k.a. walk) for nine months. That takes us to around Thanksgiving 2013.
3/11/13- On Jake's Mom's birthday, we received the news that his tumor had 100% necrosis, meaning that chemo killed it and there was no evidence of disease in the leg.
6/7/13- A CT scan of the chest reveals no heart or lung damage from chemo, as well as no evidence of cancer!
He is projected to complete chemotherapy by September 2013.
3/11/13- On Jake's Mom's birthday, we received the news that his tumor had 100% necrosis, meaning that chemo killed it and there was no evidence of disease in the leg.
6/7/13- A CT scan of the chest reveals no heart or lung damage from chemo, as well as no evidence of cancer!
He is projected to complete chemotherapy by September 2013.
Jake is being treated at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Egelston, at the AFLAC Cancer Center.
There is a donation account set up for him under "Jacob J. Russell Donation Fund" at Wells Fargo Bank, as well as an online fundraiser at http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/help-jake-fight-ewing-s-/49239 All fund raised are used toward travel and other treatment related expenses.
Jake loves getting mail and can receive mail at 817 Lopez Ln, Monroe, GA 30655
Kait:
Jake is receiving chemo as I type this. It is day 3 and he's doing great. I found out something amazing yesterday while we were talking about riding bikes. I said "Remember last summer you used to ride so fast down the hill on your tricycle? Then you got sick and you haven't been able to in a while." Jake said, "sick??" He had a very puzzled look on his face and I realized that he doesn't even know he's sick. I guess it never crossed his mind to question everything he has gone through, and it never occurred to him that it was because he got sick. In some ways I am very glad about this, and I hope that cancer is just a distant memory for him. Mostly, I am just so proud of him.
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| Jake meeting Atlanta Braves pitcher, Tim Hudson |
It is interesting that Jake doesn't think of all this as being "sick". I can't help but wonder, if he doesn't think of himself as being sick, does he think of this as being normal? Not a normal that everyone goes through this, because I'm sure he sees that, but what does a 4yo think of all this? I'm just thinking out loud...It is amazing that he hasn't questioned why he has to go through all this, or that he ever thought of himself as sick! It is part of what makes him an amazing little guy! It won't be long and he can ride that bike to his heart's content! Carry on, Jake, you are doing an awesome job! An inspiration to all of us, young and old! :)
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