Fighting with Coach Jacobson
Donation protected
Ben Jacobson husband and father of two was driving home on Thursday, Oct. 19 after a normal day of teaching classes at Kirkwood Community College, and helping coach the men's basketball team. He apparently suffered a seizure and hit another car, causing his vehicle to flip numerous times. After being taken to the University of Iowa Hospital ER via ambulance they did a routine CAT scan for injuries . After reading the scan the doctors advised Ben he would need an immediate biopsy. Ben stayed in the hospital and had a craniotomy where they found the tumor to be a non operable malignant Astrocytoma. The doctors are suggesting a year of chemotherapy, and 5 weeks of radiation. Radiation, chemo and drugs might reduce the size of the brain tumor, but Doctors cannot remove the tumor because of its delicate location without serious risk of leaving him handicappe. Treatments are scheduled to begin the week following Thanksgiving. Ben will be seeking a second opinion from additional experts at Wake Forest and Duke. Natalie Jacobson Ben's wife has taken another part-time job to help supplement their income, pay for his medical deductible, as well as any future medical expenses, and transportation costs. Although Ben can not drive yet due to his condition he plans on continuing to coach at Kirkwood while he fights for his life. Ben played division I basketball, and for the Maccabi Team USA because he was a fierce competitor and has a positive attitude he plans to beat this disease so that he can continue to be a role model to the young man he coaches and his children.
http://www.kirkwoodeagles.com/sports/mbkb/2017-18/releases/20171120p4c004
Update 7/15/2018
It’s been an extremely tough year for Ben and our family. On July 4th 2018 5months after Ben completed his last radiation treatment Ben lost is father. As you can imagine this has been very difficult for him his dad was the most generous, tolerant, understanding, and caring individuals we have known. He was not only an amazing father to Ben, but his best friend. He also loved basketball and played not only at the collegiate level, but on his firms league team. He passed on his love for the game to Ben at a young age. He was extremely influential in Ben’s success as a basketball player, and coach. Making sure Ben had access to the best basketball camps, trainers, and challenges playing against lawyers from his firm at pick up games. He was very proud of Ben’s ability as a player often telling everyone even people he’d just met how great of a player Ben was. He financially supported our family, and made sure all our needs where met so that Ben could focus on following both of their dreams of him coaching. He truly believed in Ben’s ability to succeed and saw him walking into a Head Coaching position. He often told Ben how he could already see him on tv throwing his tie back, stomping his feet, and yelling at a referee! Unfortunately Ben has to lay his coaching dream down with the man who made it possible. We just found out that with the loss of his dad it is no longer feasible for us to be here. We will have to relocate by the end of July. We came to Iowa for basketball 5 years ago, but because Ben wasn’t able to find a better coaching position that would financially support our family, and offer him the health benefits he needs for continued care. We had no other choice, but to make the difficult decision to move closer to my family in my home state. It will not be easy for us not just relocating on such short notice, and starting over with nothing in such a short period of time! With everything that has transpired since Ben’s diagnosis there was no way we could prepare for this; however we truly believe our best is still ahead of us, and will not allow this triple threat to defeat us! God’s plan for our lives are for good! We were blessed by all the donations that allowed us to pay for almost all of Ben’s medical expenses including his deductible twice once before the new year and after, and his out of pocket max twice!! We thank God for each and everyone of you who help or wanted to help and couldn’t but blessed us with prayers! It took an emense burden off of our family, and with the current events we don’t know how we would have made it with out you! We ask for your continued prayers, and support as we journey to our unknown future, and we sincerely thank you in advance! Please pray with us for Ben’s continued healing, clean MRI’s, the means and ability to make a swift safe relocation, and an explosion in my agency so that I can financially support our family!!
http://www.kirkwoodeagles.com/sports/mbkb/2017-18/releases/20171120p4c004
Update 7/15/2018
It’s been an extremely tough year for Ben and our family. On July 4th 2018 5months after Ben completed his last radiation treatment Ben lost is father. As you can imagine this has been very difficult for him his dad was the most generous, tolerant, understanding, and caring individuals we have known. He was not only an amazing father to Ben, but his best friend. He also loved basketball and played not only at the collegiate level, but on his firms league team. He passed on his love for the game to Ben at a young age. He was extremely influential in Ben’s success as a basketball player, and coach. Making sure Ben had access to the best basketball camps, trainers, and challenges playing against lawyers from his firm at pick up games. He was very proud of Ben’s ability as a player often telling everyone even people he’d just met how great of a player Ben was. He financially supported our family, and made sure all our needs where met so that Ben could focus on following both of their dreams of him coaching. He truly believed in Ben’s ability to succeed and saw him walking into a Head Coaching position. He often told Ben how he could already see him on tv throwing his tie back, stomping his feet, and yelling at a referee! Unfortunately Ben has to lay his coaching dream down with the man who made it possible. We just found out that with the loss of his dad it is no longer feasible for us to be here. We will have to relocate by the end of July. We came to Iowa for basketball 5 years ago, but because Ben wasn’t able to find a better coaching position that would financially support our family, and offer him the health benefits he needs for continued care. We had no other choice, but to make the difficult decision to move closer to my family in my home state. It will not be easy for us not just relocating on such short notice, and starting over with nothing in such a short period of time! With everything that has transpired since Ben’s diagnosis there was no way we could prepare for this; however we truly believe our best is still ahead of us, and will not allow this triple threat to defeat us! God’s plan for our lives are for good! We were blessed by all the donations that allowed us to pay for almost all of Ben’s medical expenses including his deductible twice once before the new year and after, and his out of pocket max twice!! We thank God for each and everyone of you who help or wanted to help and couldn’t but blessed us with prayers! It took an emense burden off of our family, and with the current events we don’t know how we would have made it with out you! We ask for your continued prayers, and support as we journey to our unknown future, and we sincerely thank you in advance! Please pray with us for Ben’s continued healing, clean MRI’s, the means and ability to make a swift safe relocation, and an explosion in my agency so that I can financially support our family!!
Organizer
Natalie Jacobson
Organizer
Solon, IA