King Jacob

“I’m here… now where do I go?” I texted his Mom once I stepped out of the elevators on the fourth floor. It was the first time I had ever been to the Stollery Children’s Hospital.

Just then, I saw her pop out of an opening from down the hall and with her warm smile she said, “Hi! I figured you might get lost so I thought I’d just come a lead the way for you.”

“Thanks,” I responded gratefully. “How’s he doing today?”

“He’s having a better day than yesterday. We just replaced the bandages a while ago and he’s on a lot of medication right now. But overall, pretty good.”

We wound our way through a few hallways, a couple of doors and past a reception desk until we walked into a room split into 4 with blue hospital curtains.

“Jake,” his Mom called to him. “I have someone I want you to meet. Remember I told you about my friend, Scott?”

“Yeah,” Jake responded with his ever-present, ear-to-ear smile.

“Hi Jacob. Nice to meet you!” I walked up to the side of his bed where he was laying with his head covered in bandages and connected by tubes to machines which I had no clue what their purpose was.

As soon as I got within his reach, he reached out with his left arm. I extended my left hand to meet his, expecting to just continue our salutation and shake hands. Nope! Within the first 30 seconds of meeting this incredibly special 12 year old boy, he had officially challenged me to an arm wrestling match!

Apparently his Mom had shown him some of my training videos that I posted on Facebook while preparing for the Tough Mudder. I think he was scouting me because he knew my left side was weaker than my right and took advantage of that. Jacob 1, Scott 0! This kid made my heart melt within the first minute of meeting him.

After he throttled me 5 more left handed arm wrestling matches, I sat back to allow my ego to recover and I asked his Mom, “How are you doing? How are you holding up?”

“I’m tired. I wish I could get a little more sleep but I’m just so grateful for every single moment I get with him. I am so lucky to have such a special boy in my life. I think him and I are perfect for one another.”

She then told me Jacob’s story:

When Jacob was born, he was only a pound and a half. He was placed into a room with another baby who had contracted meningitis and Jacob became very ill. He has spent his entire life in and out of the hospital including 91 surgeries! That’s right, that is not a typo. 91 SURGERIES!

The thing that blew me away the most after spending an hour with Jacob was this – I looked around at the tubes, the bandages and then was met yet again, by his big beautiful smile and I thought, “This kid redefines courage. This boy understands strength like I never will. This kid is no kid, he is a King!”

Like any other King, I figured King Jacob deserved a crown. However, this King is no ordinary King. In my opinion, Jacob is the King of courage, strength and toughness. So I thought, what crown would be more fitting that the Tough Mudder headband crown. That orange headband looks good on him, doesn’t it?

Edmonton had just experienced it’s first real dump of snow the day before my visit with Jacob and his Mom. While I was walking from the parking lot to the hospital, I was freezing (I’m not yet acclimated to the winter weather and, yes, I am a bit of a panzy too). After spending that afternoon with Jacob, I was warm for days afterward. That boy has a soul that just wraps itself around you and leaves you warm and comforted like sitting in front of a roaring fireplace.

Help Support Jacob and Soula

On December 6, a fundraiser is being held at The Canadian Brewhouse in Sherwood Park in an effort to support Jacob, Soula and Nero Kids. Please check out the details of this very special event by going to the event page on Facebook by clicking here!