Jake Baver

         This week’s campus celebrity is has an absolutely inspiring story. You would never know by looking at a picture of Jake, or by passing him on the street that just a few months ago he was in the fight of his life. Last March, just like every other eighteen year old, Jake was beginning to get back into the swing of exams and schoolwork for his second semester at UNH. Jake- a Durham native, noticed that he kept getting constant headaches (more severe than the usual stress-migrane we all experince each semester). Luckily, as a commuter, he was able to swing by the doctors after class one day. His doctor told him he, like most students and many of the people in his family, was probably experiencing a chronic migrane, a logical diagnosis for a student with a family history. 

           One morning Jake woke with a large lump on the side of his head. He returned to the doctors again, this time he was told it was a tumor. Immediately they scheduled surgery for the following month. On April 7th (his 19th birthday), Jake got a MRI. He went into surgery on April 11th. During the surgery they discovered that the tumor had eaten away at part of his skull so they had to put in a metal plate in place of the damaged tissue. 

(Jake’s head after the surgery)

            A month passed after the surgery, and Jake experienced no symptoms leaving him and his family to believe he was in the clear. Then, Jake noticed that he was unusually thirsty all the time, a thirst that just couldn’t be quenched. He was constantly carrying around Arnold Palmer Ice Tea, jugs of water and drinking fluids in excess. He felt like he always had to use the restroom.  After another consultation, Jake went to Children’s Hospital in Boston where he heard for the first time that he had Langerhans Cell Histicytosis, a form of cancer. The pituitary gland in his brain was destroyed by the tumor; Jake’s kidneys had been damaged and his ability to keep water in his body was no longer there. This is because the pituitary gland makes a hormone that is responsible for keeping fluids in his body, no pituitary gland, no hormone. The staff in Children’s hospital started him on Chemotherapy within that same week. A hard pill for anyone to swallow, Jake had never even imagined one bump on his head would mean in only a few short months, he would be battling one of the most serious diseases plaguing our nation today. The chemotherapy consisted of six sessions on a three week rotation.  Jake’s body was filled with chemicals five days a week for two hours each day. Each session Jake would go to Children’s in Boston for only the first day and return home for the remaining four days because they offered an outpatient nurse program for his chemotherapy. Jake said that his experience with Children’s Hopsital was great, and wanted to make sure we acknowledged thir amazing staff and all his family and friends that supported him during this difficult time. 

           While Jake was sick, he could not be out in public often, and was on a very restricted as the chemotherapy killed his immune system. Since he couldn’t go out often Jake, an aspiring English teacher, would spend much of his time home writing, something he has always enjoyed. He told us that one day his goal is to have a book published (we’re hoping for a signed copy). Luckily, Jake was allowed to have visitors, and friends from home and school frequently stopped by to spend time with him during his recovery. Having such an amazing support system motivated Jake work through any initial denial and come to terms with the fact he had fallen victim to cancer. When asked, Jake said that “the hardest part about his cancer is that how extremely rare is it, only 2 in one million people get the type of cancer I had”. This meant that the doctors didn’t have many answers for the wide array of questions he and his family had about his condition. Jake and his family felt like they were left in the dark for a long time, something we can only imagine is extremely frustrating, especially when you’re life is on the line. In order to prevent others from dealing with the same frustrations that Jake did, he decided to donate his tumor to the doctors so they could study and better understand Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis.

            Jake’s sixth and final round of chemo took place early this fall. Jake is now in remission. He still has daily reminders of his battle, he will have to wear a bracelet for the rest of his life because as a residual side effect, Jake developed Diabetes Insipidus. He also still has some (pretty badass) scars from surgery, and the metal plate in his skull.  Jake told us he’ll be a regular at the doctors office for a while (and we thought a yearly physical was a nusiance). One of the most amazing things Jake has done since his remission is come back to school after only taking off one semester and only dropping one class during this past spring semester! He had to fill out a UNH form telling them why he took a semester off, with no appropriate option to bubble in, Jake told us he had to add “Had Cancer” on his form. Luckily, Jake was accepted relatively quickly back into the University and is currently taking a full schedule of classes.

            Jake’s new lease on life means he’ll be going with friends as often as he possibly can and playing on an intramural soccer team, both of which his cancer prevented him from doing his freshman year. Since being diagnosed, Jake noted a new perspective on his social life, academics, and overall experiences, as he does not want to waste the second chance he’s been given. Jake’s mom; the root of his support system through this entire process, even helped out her son along the way by making Jake a paper chain during his remission that acts as a checkpoint for each milestone he reaches. What were Jake’s two favorite moments during so far? He said he loves being able to eat sushi again (the crunchy Hamachi roll is his favorite), and he got a new pet, “Quoddy” the tortoise, this past weel.

            Jake is finally back at work as well, with not only one job but two! Jake is currently working at an after school program for kid’s ages 5-10 as well as with his old high school’s boy’s soccer team. Jake’s favorite sport in high school was soccer so it meant a lot to him when his former coach asked him to be the assistant for the current team. He’s been working with the boys during the off-season by coaching Saturday morning sessions and an indoor league.

            Today Jake is continuing with his classes as a normal college student, he’s found a new happiness here at UNH, and intends to make the most of his time here, by being more involved and loving every step of the way. Jake was too old to receive a Wish from the Make-A-Wish organization so Dana-Farber of Children’s Hospital is taking Jake along with other Children’s from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institution patients to Fort Myers, Florida on March 8th for Spring Training with the Red Sox! While he’s there, Jake and the other kids will be able to attend batting practices with the team and meet their favorite players (Jake’s favorite is center fielder, Jacoby Ellsbury)! This trip is all expenses paid sponsored by Dana-Farber. At the end of the interview Jake told us that he “was lucky to stay at UNH. I was so fortunate enough to be close to my family through everything, so being at UNH worked out perfectly for me.”

Jake’s new Tortis Quoddy!

If you would like to help kids like Jake then click the link below to donate and help kids everywhere.

http://www.dana-farber.org/How-to-Help.aspx

or go to

http://www.jimmyfund.org/