Dad Of 3, Beloved Pleasanton Worker Battling Blood Cancer

PLEASANTON, CA — In 2018 Ben Jacobs spent months feeling sick and run down but he worked full-time and helped care for his three young children. He suffered from plenty of the typical colds and sniffles parents of young children tend to get. It wasn’t until he came down with a rough bout of the flu and an odd rash that the hardworking dad visited Kaiser.

“On a whim” the doctor sent in blood work that would eventually help diagnose the real reason for Jacobs’ chronic malaise. It took hundreds of additional vials of blood and two bone marrow biopsies before doctors told Jacobs that he had a rare blood cancer called Myelodysplastic Syndrome.

In the wake of the devastating diagnosis, Jacobs, who is an employee for the City of Pleasanton Utilities Division, is now undergoing chemotherapy and eventually a marrow transplant in the fight for his life. For the first few months of treatment, Jacobs’ immune system will be extremely vulnerable and doctors have advised him to stay away from his children until he has better immunity, according to a GoFundMe page created for him.

The Antioch resident has been on light duty for several months following his diagnosis and while he is undergoing treatment, he will be off work. In anticipation of the loss of income, Jacobs and his wife, Nicole, have been cutting back on costs but monthly finances and the costs associated with treatment will be challenging for the young family with one income.

Friends, family and co-workers are rallying to help Jacobs. The GoFundMe page created for Jacobs and his family has garnered $7,500 since it was launched in February. Click here to donate. Follow Jacobs’ journey on Facebook.

Photos courtesy GoFundMe
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