UPDATE 9/22/21
Update on Jakes prognosis from today’s cancer center meeting: He has grade 4 glioblastoma there is no cure and will be fatal for him someday … we are so very sad at our home right now, however he will need to do radiation and chemo starting next week. With the treatments he will hopefully be able to pro-long his life and stop the cancer from growing for how long no one knows could give him 1-2 years or 10-20 years. We are so very hopeful that this will give him 20 +++ and with his age and positivity along with god and everyone’s prayers we hope to have him in our lives as long as we can. It’s been a very rough day and we hope that all of our friends and family will continue to keep us in your prayers and hope for miracles!!!

Successful surgery on 9/7/21, taking out the size of a lime from the tumor. Results next week.




This is Jake Kolbow, 42 years old who lives in West Bend, WI with his wife and two kids. Last week(8/29/21) it was a normal day. Jake was doing chores around the house when he collapsed in his sons arms, and started seizing, foaming of the mouth. Jake was rushed to the hospital where the CT scan showed a large mass on his brain. Due to the intensity of the seizures, Jake was put in an induced coma with a breathing tube. In the middle of the night, he was immediately medically rushed to Froedtert hospital in Wauwatosa, WI where he has been in the NICU unit since.

Once rushed to Froedtert hospital, a team of Neurosurgeon doctors were called in right away. They found a tumor on his brain. It is the size a golf ball and has fluid pressing against his brain (which is why the seizers happened). The doctors also see that the this tumor has finger-links embedded into his brain.

Jake needs to get brain surgery ASAP to stop the damage in his brain due to the fluid pressing on his left frontal lobe, however, surgery keeps getting postponed due to kidney failure. His kidneys are operating at 12%. The doctors think that is because of the seizures, the medicine from the seizure, and/or the brain tumor itself. He is getting dialysis this weekend. Surgery is scheduled now for Tuesday, 9/7 (assuming they can operate on him with his kidneys).

Once he has brain surgery, they will release the fluid, remove as much of the brain mass that they can. They will then test to see what kind it is and how bad it is. They will have a plan of action on treatment at that point.

Simultaneously, after brain surgery we will know what damage has been done. The part of the brain where this is affects speech, cognitive ability and motor functions. We will understand his quality of life while understanding what treatment he will need to go through.

This will be a long road, a long recovery, and a new way of life for him.

At this point, we are asking for prayers most importantly. We know miracles CAN happen and we are not losing hope (despite the continuous negative updates). Secondly, financially this is going to be extremely rough for Jake and his family. Jake is the only income they have. The amount of medical bills, mortgage, raising their two teenage boys will be astronomical. Any help is extremely appreciated and for this family as they have a long road ahead of them.

Since Jake will most likely be in the hospital for months and his wife will be there daily during visiting hours, they also are trying to find ways to keep their family fed. There is a meal train that is set up for them as well. If you do not live in the area, there are e-gift card options. Here is the link: https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/gonv83

We also plan on keeping updates going at all times if you would like to come back and check in on how Jake is doing. We know we need as much support and prayers at this time and thank you for them all!!