CMN 2009 Champion Child

Tue, 06/24/2008 - 18:29 by acu_Laurie

CMN 2009 Champion Child

Credit Unions for Kids is a collaboration of credit unions, chapters, leagues, and business partners engaged in fund raising activities to benefit 170 Children's Miracle Network affiliated children's hospitals serving 17 million kids.  Allegiance Credit Union is proud to support CMN and to tell the story of the 2009 Champion Child. 

Jacob Stoepker

2009 Champion Child

In the spring of 2003, Jacob was diagnosed with diabetes insipidus, a problem with the pituitary gland not producing a specific hormone that enables the body to retain water.  In general the number one reason for diabetes insipidus is a brain tumor.  An MRI revealed no tumor and it was thought that he had the disease for no apparent reason.  In 2004 upon starting third grade, Jake complained to his mom, Cheryl, that he was having a hard time seeing the teacher and chalkboard.  Thinking he needed glasses, his mother took him for an eye exam and found out that he was completely blind in his left eye and had limited vision in his right.  Being a nurse, and having done lots of research about diabetes insipidus, Cheryl knew what this meant.  Within a few days the Stoepker's worst fears were confirmed and Jacob was diagnosed with a brain tumor. 

The day he was diagnosed was one of the worst days of their lives and one of the best because it was the day they were told their child had cancer but also the first day they met their lifesaver, Dr. Renee McNall-Knapp.  Jacob underwent six rounds of chemotherapy, all of which had to be done in the PICU and 30 treatments of radiation.  When treatment was over, Jacob was cancer free. 

He is still blind in his left eye, still has diabetes insipidus and didn't grow in the last three years, but life could not be better.  He has started taking the growth hormone and has grown several inches the past few months.  When asked, Jacob thinks he was lucky to have cancer; he got to meet all kinds of nice people (doctors and nurses) and also gets to do fun things with Children's Miracle Network.