Help Support Jake Rudd

Please help Jake Rudd and his family get through this tough time. They need us now!

All who are lucky enough to know Jake, would say he is funny, sweet, tough, kind-hearted and gentle. He has been like this since the day he was born. He's always been happy and most importantly healthy! Jake loves to compete, and does so with intensity and passion. Jake is a tough kid, proven by his story.

Jake is like most other 13 year olds in so many ways. He loves hanging out with his friends, going to Starbucks, playing video games, watching movies, reading, and playing sports. Lacrosse is his favorite for sure, playing attack for both the Wayne PAL Wolfpack during the season, and for the Thunder Lacrosse team during the summer and fall. He also loves basketball, football, soccer, and even wiffle ball. Jake can also be found spending plenty of time ( too much, some would argue ) on his phone, Snapchat, Instagram, texting, etc. This all sounds pretty typical of most of the boys his age.

There is one difference, Jake has Ewing's sarcoma. Ewing's sarcoma is a rare bone cancer , seen mostly in kids ages 10-20.

This journey began at the beginning of April. April 2016 started out very typical for Jake and his family. They spent their days at work and school, and after school hours were spent at dance for his sister Ella , and on the lacrosse field either practicing or playing in games for Jake and his dad ( he coaches). Jake started to complain of leg pain. Jake rarely complains, so his parents took this pretty seriously! The pain was on and off for a few days and didn't stop him from playing lacrosse or with his friends.  After about a week of complaining, and taking some Advil, icing his leg, putting a heating pad on the leg, even wearing an ace bandage, his dad, Kevin, brought him to get it checked out by an orthopedist in town. From that moment, when the Dr. said he " sees something" and that he " doesn't like the way this looks", Jake and his family's lives all changed.

Jake, along with his parents, began this journey. They went to doctors and hospitals almost every single day over those next few weeks. They went to get test after test, different opinions from different doctors, and Jake never once, not one time, complained. He is amazing. Stronger than imaginable for a kid who is thrown a curve ball that no one could have ever expected. After about a week, and an open leg biopsy, Jake's parents were told he has Ewing's sarcoma on his femur, a rare bone cancer. The shock to his parents was almost unbearable.

Over the next 2 weeks Jake received a port in his chest, a bone marrow biopsy, and then another chest and groin biopsy. He recovered from each surgery/ procedure amazingly well. Prayers were answered, the bone marrow, chest nodule and groin lymph nodes were all negative!!! Now, after all these tests, it was known that Jake has localized Ewing's sarcoma on his femur. The surgeon said once the chemo shrinks the tumor he will operate to remove the bone. Luckily (eventually )he will have full use of his leg again. Until then, Jake is not to put full pressure on his leg and he is to stay on crutches to avoid a break to the bone. Jake hates the crutches, but again, does not complain or give his parents a hard time! Amazing!

Jake has a long treatment process. Jake has to have chemotherapy, which is 2 days in the hospital, 11 days off and then 5 days of chemotherapy in the hospital, then 8 days off. Repeated for 12 weeks. He will then have a surgery to remove the part of the femur where the tumor is, and replace that bone with bone from his fibula. The surgeon has said this will be 3-6 months in a leg brace for recovery. He will then have another 16 weeks of chemotherapy - similar regimen to above. Jake will fight this- with his family and friends by his side every step of the way!

This is all still so unbelievable to those that know and love Jake . His attitude and spirits remain positive and he will fight and win! To all who have prayed and sent positive, healing thoughts for Jake- 

THANK YOU AND KEEP THEM COMING!
RUDDMAN STRONG !