Meet Jacob

Jacob was the kind of kindergartner who couldn’t sit still for long, always running, jumping and bouncing with endless energy. Whether it was chasing a soccer ball across the field or racing his friends around the playground, Jacob radiated joy. But when his mom, Erin, began noticing that her son was getting sick more often than usual—random fevers that seemed to appear and disappear—she knew something wasn’t right.

At first, the visits to urgent care reassured the family. Yet Erin’s instinct told her to keep watching closely. Then came the moment that made her heart sink. At Jacob’s very first soccer game, the boy who once couldn’t wait to lace up his sneakers sat down on the field, unable to summon his usual energy. “That wasn’t my Jacob,” Erin recalls. “In that instant, I knew something bigger was going on.”

Bloodwork soon confirmed every parent’s worst fear. At just 6-years-old, Jacob was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Erin and her husband, Dave, were in shock, trying to process how their perfectly healthy little boy could now be battling cancer. “The only way out of this is through it,” Erin says. And so began Jacob’s journey.

From the start, Jacob showed a strength beyond his years. Though fearful of the endless new procedures, he would look at his parents and whisper words of courage: “Don’t worry, I got this.” Those small pep talks became a lifeline for Erin and Dave, a reminder that their son’s resilient spirit would carry them all forward.

Jacob’s journey has been filled with moments that prove just how strong this little warrior is. Even after long treatments, he still finds bursts of joy. On walks with his mom and baby sister—born this past January—he often challenges Erin with a grin: “Race me to the corner.” His determination shines in those playful words, echoing the vibrant boy he has always been.

The family is quick to credit the team at Hackensack Meridian K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center for transforming what could have been only fear and darkness into moments of light. “They have given us the most amazing experience,” Erin shares. “They’ve taken the worst time in our lives and allowed Jacob to still be a social, happy kid."

Erin also emphasizes how meaningful Tackle Kids Cancer has been throughout the process. “Our experience with TKC has been absolutely incredible,” she says. “They took the worst and darkest moments and brought back my social and happy kid. I will forever be grateful for that.”

Jacob especially looks forward to one tradition: picking out a new Lego at every chemo visit. It’s a simple but powerful motivator, a bright spot that makes the treatments more bearable. His palliative care team and oncology team, led by Andrew Silverman, M.D., have been a steady source of comfort. “The communication is everything,” Erin says. “They trust me to know my child, and I trust them to guide us through. No detail is too small. That trust calms the panic and the unknown.”

Jacob still has a long road ahead, but his family feels grateful for the support and expertise that surround them. For now, his dreams of returning to the soccer field and riding the tractor with his grandfather are on hold. But with each day, Jacob grows stronger, ready to reclaim all the joys of childhood.

“Jacob is a fighter,” Erin says proudly. “We know he’ll get there.”