When my son Jacob was first diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in 2019, everyone who loved him watched his quiet strength rise to meet the moment. He is a marvel. Though we nearly lost him, he fought his way back and eventually beat cancer. When he rang the bell at the end of treatment, we believed that chapter of his life was behind him. He said that during the fight he hadn’t had space to think about the future—but now that he was going to live, he was glad to start imagining the rest of his life.

I’m heartbroken to share that Jacob’s journey has taken a sudden and devastating turn. What began as a “black eye” that lingered for months—now swollen to the size of a baseball—led to a biopsy confirming that his ALL has returned. The swelling is officially labeled a tumor and has to be seen to be believed.

Jacob’s oncologists initially created a treatment plan leading to a stem cell transplant, but recent labs and a PET scan revealed the cancer has progressed far faster than expected. The original protocol is no longer an option. He was immediately admitted to the Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle, and we now face a kind of medical “Choose Your Own Adventure”—trying different treatments, hoping one will slow the cancer enough to get us back on track for the transplant. Every step is uncertain, Jacob is very sick, and the road ahead is unpredictable and frightening.

Because he can't work, his monthly bills and rent have been weighing heavily on him. When I first set out to create this GoFundMe page a few days ago, it was simply to raise support for Jacob’s basic monthly expenses during what we believed would be a month-long hospital stay. But things have changed quickly and we're in a vastly different reality now, with needs—both current and future—far greater than we imagined.

Family is helping with what we can, but the larger challenge will be the mounting medical costs, which are overwhelming. These “Choose Your Own Adventure” treatments are expensive, with no official roadmap or ending—just a lot of hope, crossed fingers, and prayers that Jacob’s body responds to something and we can reach a stable place of healing. And all of this is just for the leukemia; the tumor in his eye can’t be addressed until we reach remission.

So many of you have loved Jacob from a distance and asked about him over the years—at my shows and on social media. So much love, care, and prayers, and many of you even gave financially in his first battle. Thank you...

As he gets back in the ring to go another round, the stakes are even higher. He could use all of the love, care, prayers, or financial support you can spare. It would mean the world to him—and to me, and to all who love him. Any support will help lighten his load and allow Jacob to focus on what matters most: fighting for his life and finding his way to healing.

We’ve set an initial goal of $22,000 to help cover Jacob’s immediate needs and give him some breathing room during this first phase of treatment. As we learn more about what the road ahead will require, we may adjust the goal to reflect his ongoing medical and living expenses.

Thank you for anything you can do.