Jake Strong: Faith Over Fear

Update on Jake (8/26/22):

First, I want to thank everyone for the prayers. God’s presence is recognized in so many ways every day. This morning we praised God for the blessings of this year. Surrounded by storms, it’s so easy to focus on the devastation, destruction, pain and suffering. Today we praised God for the daily miracles: from the breath in our lungs, to renewed relationships, to healing for our family, and the support from loved ones and strangers through it all. This allowed us to see the blue skies that we otherwise would have missed had we not stopped to look upward. Thank you all for being part of our blue sky today. $6000 of your donations just paid for approximately two months of hotel expenses... and that was at a medical rate. You are a blessing.

Jake starts STEP 2 today! Dr. Einhorn reported at the beginning of the week that his HCG (the most important number) is non-existent! All his other counts are normal and platelets have risen to 86 and while this fluctuates, he’s stayed over 50 and hasn’t needed a transfusion. His kidneys are back to normal. So all is great after a grueling few weeks of suffering through the reaction from Chemo. He was discharged from the hospital for two days and was able to sleep in the hotel, which was a much-needed break for him. Today starts round 2 of Chemo, followed by Stem Cell transplant and a few weeks of reaction and recovery... all over again.

As info, one of the side effects of this chemo is deafness. Jake’s hearing has already been diminished to a level just above complete deafness. It is unknown if he will get his hearing back or if it will worsen with this next round of chemo. Hearing aids are on order.

Jake did not want to leave the hotel and return to the hospital. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers play the Indianapolis Colts tomorrow, Saturday, 8/27, at 7:30 pm. He thought he might be able to see his boy Tom Brady for the game since it’s local. Here’s our chance to make Jake’s day. Share this with everyone you know and those you don’t! Maybe Tom will visit Jake in the hospital... you never know. All we can do is try! God bless you all.

We continue to ask for prayer:

Please pray for complete healing for Jake: Physically, Mentally, and Spiritually.

Please pray for Dr. Einhorn and his team: for wisdom, guidance, and protection.

Please pray for Christine: for physical, mental, and spiritual strength and protection from stress.

Please pray for Grace: caring for Jake and her Dad when needed. She goes where she is called. Pray for abundant blessings for her.

Please pray for complete healing for Jay: Physically, Mentally, and Spiritually.

Jake's Story:

It has been devastating to watch members of our family face the most difficult challenges in their lives. In January of 2022, Jake was hit with the storm of his young life. At 27 years old, Jake was diagnosed with advanced-stage cancer that spread throughout his body (the same cancer that Lance Armstrong had). After spending Christmas together as a family, news of his diagnosis only one month later seemed impossible. It reminds us of how fragile life can be and how our lives today can drastically differ from tomorrow.

For the past eight months, Jake has been hit with many ups and downs following his initial diagnosis. If I were to tell you about his respiratory complications – intubations, extubations, and a tracheostomy – that would just be the beginning. He has also been through chemotherapy treatments, a brain bleed, and a stroke – which led to paralysis on the left side of his body. The inability to perform the everyday tasks that we often take for granted, such as simply sliding into bed, has become a daily challenge for Jake.

As if that was not enough, Jake’s dad, Jay (who of course was caring for Jake as well), fell ill and septic in June. His organs began shutting down; he was on four different types of life support and had flatlined at one point. It is still unclear as to what caused his illness. It is simply a miracle he is alive. Needless to say, the effects of being on four forms of life support have impacted him significantly. The physical therapy to gain enough mobility and strength to be with Jake again is extensive. However, he is progressing.

This leads us to the present day. Jake is now in Indianapolis with Dr. Lawrence H. Einhorn, the same doctor who treated and cured Lance Armstrong. The hope is that this treatment will be the final step in defeating this aggressive disease. At this time, Jake has completed the first round of a two-step treatment process, which includes aggressive high-dose chemotherapy and stem-cell transplant. This procedure reduces platelet count drastically, and concern is the possibility of another brain bleed.

From the beginning, we have believed that we will witness a miracle from God far greater than the overwhelming storms in front of us. We have seen so many miracles, and we eagerly expect to see so much more that our God can do each day.

Our family would be so grateful for you to consider:

Since January, Jake has been admitted to three different hospitals in three different states. Due to the extreme circumstances, he is no longer employed and has a mortgage of his own. Of course, Jake has had unconditional support from his mom and dad. Through our donations, I pray that we can provide for all of them in the same way. If you feel compelled to give, in addition to prayer, the family can be supported financially by clicking the “donate” link. Financial support can help pay medical bills, insurance, house payments, hotel living, food, transportation, etc.

Previous Updates:

Jake has had to take advantage of several blood transfusions to increase his platelet count. Because of regular donations received by the blood bank from the general population, all cancer patients can receive these much-needed life-sustaining platelets. Jake is so grateful as a beneficiary of these selfless acts – it’s given him a chance to fight. Below are two links to find your nearest donor center. Your donation through your local blood bank can help a cancer patient, like Jake, fight their battle:

https://www.oneblood.org/about-donating/blood-donor-basics/donation-methods/platelet-donation.stml

https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/types-of-blood-donations/platelet-donation.html

Thank you for taking the time to read Jake’s story. Please consider how you can help our family and other cancer patients as well. ♥

A thank you note from Christine:

Since Jake’s diagnosis in January, we have been so overwhelmed. I can’t put into words the immense gratitude and peace I have received from the outpouring of concern and the many prayers from friends and family, friends who have touched our lives but haven’t seen in years, and those who have never even met our family. So many people have asked what they can do to help, and my response is always PRAYERS. I have been very blessed to have witnessed, firsthand, the power of prayer in my life. I may never know all of the countless people who have prayed for Jake and us, but I thank God every day because I know those prayers have gotten him to this point.

When my Neice, Kelley, and brother, Brian, came to me with what they wanted to do through this donation site, I was once again emotionally overwhelmed.

I have never experienced so much love from so many. Again, there are no words to express the immense gratitude for all the prayers, donations, neighbors mowing my lawn and taking care of our animals, and the love everyone has shown us.