A Brave Little Boy Needs Our Help

There are moments when you find that there are more important things than fighting for smoke free parks or fighting to keep a power plant from being built.

While I have not and will not give up on those fights... I would, for this moment,  like to put those issues aside and put a story more important out to the community.

This involves an 8-year-old little boy named Jacob from Lakeside who was diagnosed a few weeks ago with cancer.  It is quite possibly terminal cancer as the doctors are unable to operate on the malignant tumor on his brain stem.

Jacob is currently taking radiation and chemotherapy everyday at Rady’s Children’s Hospital, but radiation and chemotherapy with Jacob’s condition are only expected to give a child a 6 percent chance of survival.

I read about this story on NBC San Diego's website and was moved to do something to help.  You can click here to read the story.

The family is trying to raise money.  Insurance has covered most of the costs of treatment...but what insurance does not cover is the cost of clinical trials because it is experimental medicine.  On top of the treatment, there is the cost of travel to get to the trials.

There is a website set up by Jacob's babysitter, Claire Scott.  You can go to this website and make a secure donation through Paypal by clicking here.

I cannot even imagine going through this.  As a parent to a 9-year-old daughter I just simply cannot imagine it.  A parents worst nightmare is seeing their child suffer or worse being forced to bury their own child. 

Having spent this evening at Rady's Emergency Room with my daughter for a foot fracture scare from soccer practice (luckily just a deep bruise--no fracture) and then seeing this story, I became overwhelmed with emotions and decided to write this blog in order to help this courageous young man in the small way that I can.

While sometimes on this website things get a little testy and a bit out of control....and while some of us do not see eye to eye....one thing is certain- the community of Santee is filled with a great spirit.  A spirit unmatched in East County.

If we agree on nothing else, we can agree how precious children are.  We can all agree that this is something no child should ever have to go through.  We can all agree that this is something no parent should ever have to go through.

So for this, I ask that everyone join forces, like I know that Santee can, and go to the website and make a donation.  If you can afford $5...every little bit adds up.  If you can afford more...wonderful.  Again the donations are made through PayPal which is very secure.

For those who believe, the next time that you say a prayer throw an extra one in for Jacob.  The power of prayer can sometimes bring miracles.

For those with children at home, give them an extra hug tonight and let them know how much you love them.