Jacob Moore is not your ordinary teenager. Just about none of us has ever had to deal with a life-threatening disease as a child, but Jacob Moore was forced to face that threat. And while most everyone would be afraid to face something as scary as leukemia, Jacob showed that he's not ordinary at all, but extraordinary in his bravery, grace, and perseverance throughout his trying ordeal.
Sixteen years ago now, Jacob's loving mother, Heidi, found out that the baby she was carrying had Down syndrome. Along with other complications, they didn't even know if he would live through the pregnancy. With science, constant prayers, and a little bit of luck, Jacob made it through, and Heidi never once would change anything about her son.
While Jacob has Down syndrome, he remains one of the most important people in Heidi's life. And along with his loving and caring nature, he's something that not a lot of other people are: honest. Heidi never saw the baby growing inside of her as an "it" or a "mistake," she only saw him as Jacob.
Raising a son with special needs certainly had its good days as well as the bad, but that's to be expected in any family in America. But when Heidi got the news of Jacob's leukemia, she had to put her life on hold. Even with modern medicine, she had to wonder every single day whether or not her little boy would live.
Looking at her son suffering from the effects of chemo, any ordinary person would break down into tears, but Heidi isn't an ordinary person. She stayed strong for her son and did everything she could to support him every step of the way.
So now at the age of 16, when over one third of his entire life has been dealing with beating back cancer, Jacob tries to experience each day as normally as possible. Since 2009 when the Moore family got the horrifying news, he's had to deal with countless exhausting chemo treatments, doctors visits, and the uncertainty of it all. No child should have to go through this no matter what.
In honor of Jacob's brave fight, the Rally Foundation is asking for donations to help in childhood cancer research. But one "ordinary" day the doctor asked Jacob to speak with him. While the teenager had no idea what he was about to hear he wasn't expecting to hear something this extraordinary!
Scroll down to read the rest of Jacob's inspiring story!
Heidi Moore is about as good a mother as anyone could ask for. She had a beautiful family and was living her life as happily as she could. Even though her son Jacob had Down syndrome and autism, she taught him valuable lessons that would give him the ability and perseverance to overcome any obstacles that would ever come his way.
Unfortunately, one such obstacle came early in his life that no one could have ever expected: leukemia. Children with Down syndrome are 20 times more likely to develop this disease, so it's actually thought that the key to a cure for all can be found on the 21st chromosome. While this is a scary prognosis for anyone you love, to have to hear a doctor say it about your own child must have been an absolutely horrifying experience. With the potential loss of such a beautiful and happy child on her mind, Heidi knew she would have to do everything she could to keep his spirits up and his heart full of love.
The treatments were devastating. Over the course of three and a half years, this little boy who should have been running outside and playing with his brother, often found himself weak and in bed. With 22 spinal taps, nine blood transfusions, hair loss, x-rays, emergency room visits and unending weeks of sitting in the hospital, Heidi still had to persevere for the sake of her brave son.
The effects of the disease took their toll on little Jacob's body. Over the course of his treatment, his body actually forgot how to do many of the physical tasks that all of us take for granted. He was forced to relearn how to walk, run, and just be a kid. His strength and endurance had completely disintegrated, but leave it to a kid like him who has such an inspiring mother to push through all the pain and relearn all those skills!
Countless children go through these life-threatening diseases every year. And it is only through research and education that we can one day make cancer a word with no more meaning. But for the time being, it's the people and teams of doctors like Dr. Lew of the AFLAC Cancer Center who passionately use all of their talents and hope to save these valuable lives, one at a time.
So after six and a half years of fighting this horrible disease and making it through the devastating treatments, Dr. Lew was there to give Jacob some very important news: he was free again. After years of so much pain, through the fears and hope and prayers, Jacob was a cancer survivor.
So now that all of the hard parts are out of the way, it seems like Jacob has a few special plans for his future…
Click to the NEXT page to watch Jacob enter a new chapter of his incredible life!
Just about anyone would expect that Jacob would do his best to avoid going to the hospital at all costs, considering going through such a trying ordeal. But sometimes you might find him right there.
Maybe because he knows what it feels like, or maybe just because his heart is filled with love, but Jacob went along with his caregiver to visit her mother. She had to stay in rehab for a major health issue, and Jacob knew exactly how to bring joy to her heart as a "Goodwill Ambassador."
But when Jacob isn't busy helping others, you might find him pursuing his deep love for music! Heidi knew that his autism and Down syndrome would come with its own developmental challenges. So to overcome those difficulties, she got Jacob into music therapy at as young as 3 months old!
The healing power of music has helped him in his communication, sign language, motor skills, and behavior and pain management during his ordeal with cancer. From classic Christmas carols to alternative songs by Weezer, Jacob has turned that constant of his life into an incredible passion. Give him an instrument, and he'll play it!
But you won't find Jacob inside all the time. That's because on top of being an artist and a music lover, he respects the importance of athletics and team sports. A true leader and an inspiration to everyone around him, you can find Jacob watching the Atlanta Braves kick butt, or even playing the game himself!
With such an active, loving, giving and passionate personality, it should come as no surprise that Jacob has begun to invest his time and efforts into raising awareness for research on the link between Down syndrome and leukemia. Jacob and his team have begun to reach out to the public demanding the government and everyone to do more, care more, and support our fellow neighbors!
The probable link between the 21st chromosome and this disease absolutely has to be looked into further. The cure for everyone could be found if more research is done. Only 4 percent of all federal funding goes to childhood cancer, so currently it's up to people like Jacob and his family to raise money. Along with the Northwestern University team, he helped raise $50,000 for more research!
Jacob has so many goals and plans that he can't keep up sometimes and has to write everything down. Celebrating the amazing milestone of being 16 years old, he compiled a list of things to do in a single day! While everyone was certainly exhausted by the end of it, he managed to check every single box off the list!
While he's certainly checked off quite a bit, there's still one extra thing that hasn't come his way just yet…
Check to the NEXT page to see Jacob experience something that's important to everyone his age!
Looking dapper in his prom tux, Jacob was honored when his best friend, Claudia, asked him to be her date for a prom "Night to Shine."
While his family was incredibly supportive throughout his sickness, it always helps to have the love of a close and dear friend. And Claudia has been there with Jacob through the whole ride.
In the good times and the bad, their relationship has gotten stronger and stronger as the years have gone by. And you can honestly feel the special friendship and unbreakable love they will always have for each other.
Jacob's story is an inspiration to everyone. But it took a community to help boost him up to finally become the young man he was always meant to be, with the love of his mother, father, brother, dogs, friends, doctors, and community. And now everyone has done their best to keep Jacob in their prayers.
So to celebrate "no Moore cancer," it should be remembered that we all have a part to play. Cancer is still horrible to the human race, and it's only through research that we will celebrate the day of triumph against this horrible enemy.
While Heidi will never forget those "cancer years," you can surely bet she's happy they're behind her. The love and strength she had throughout her son's journey are truly one-of-a-kind.
There was uncertainty and fear, but love will always somehow manage to overcome any obstacle. And something tells us that Jacob is going to do great things with his life — and not as a "cancer survivor" nor a person with "special needs," but as a man who knows what it means to help the world and all of those who live in it.
Please SHARE this family's beautiful story if you think we need to do all we can to beat back cancer for good!
