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By Mark Huard
CHINA — Jacob Seigars is like a lot of other 13-year-olds — he loves sports, a good laugh and is good friends with his brothers and sisters.
He attended China Schools until October, when he transferred to Palermo Consolidated School.
Jacob’s mother is Heather Seigars, his father is Joseph Seigars and his “bonus mother” is Natasha Seigars. Jacob has a 15-year-old brother, Shawn, and three younger siblings, Achiva, 10, Joe Joe, 7, and Isabella, 3.
He also has two pets — a yellow Lab named Honey and a cat named Shade.
Jacob also has a fantastic sense of humor. He can take any situation and find humor, even when it’s a situation that totally stinks, like being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.
After being sick with numerous illnesses for about six weeks, including colds and pneumonia, Jacob was diagnosed with AML on Jan. 15, and admitted to Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland the same day.
He will be there for at least a few more months. Jacob completed his second round of chemotherapy on Feb. 18. He continues to fight keukemia and has no doubts that he will kick cancer’s butt.
Jacob is an athlete known for his skill and positive attitude. Whatever sport he plays he puts his whole heart into it. He started playing soccer at the age of 3, basketball at 4 and baseball at 5, with T-ball. He played Little League through sixth grade. He also joined the track and field team in sixth grade, and continued to compete in seventh grade, with his best events discus and hurdles.
Jacob has received a lot of recognition over the years because of his athletic ability and been an integral part of many teams. His middle school soccer team has won the SVAC Championship the last two years. His middle school basketball team last season, China Clippers, placed second in the 2017 SVAC Championship.
Last season Jacob placed first in hurdles at the invitational meet. Jacob recently earned a spot to the Dirigo U-14 Premier soccer team and is hoping to get back on the field soon. This season, Jacob played for the Palermo varsity basketball team. He was struggling health-wise, but still managed to dominate the court and end each game with double-doubles.
Jacob also loves to watch sports, particularly the New England Patriots. His favorite players are Chris Hogan, Dion Lewis and Rob Gronkowsi. Jacob got a surprise on Feb. 13, when Gronk, his father and two brothers visited the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital to deliver a $25,000 donation to the hospital.
Jacob’s blood counts were too low to attend the gathering, which included a ball-spiking lesson with Gronk. But it was OK, because Gronk and his father visited Jacob’s room.
For more updates on Jacob’s fight, upcoming events and donation information, visit www.facebook.com/PrayforJacob18.
Fundraisers have been schedule to help defray the cost of Jacob’s treatment, including a dodgeball tournament March 2 at Whitefield Elementary School for March 2, and a 3v3 Basketball tournament on March 4 at China Middle School, organized by Mike Roderick and Becky and Chris Young. A donation account has been established at Bar Harbor Bank and Trust.
PHOTO: New England Patriot Rob Gronkowski visits Jacob Seigars at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland. Jacob, 13, of Palermo and China, has acute myeloid leukemia. (Submitted photo)
