A wish granted, and valuable perspective gained

MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION

Jeremiah Jacobs of Huntersville (second from right) and his family met financier Robert Smith through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Most children through Make-A-Wish Foundation ask for a trip to Disney World, but Jeremiah Jacobs of Huntersville asked to meet a celebrity.

Jacobs, 18, wanted to meet Robert Smith, an African American billionaire who is founder, CEO and chairman, of the private equity firm Vista Equity Partners.

During the 2019 commencement speech at Morehouse College, the philanthropist surprised the graduates by pledging to pay off their student loan debt — a $34 million gift that helped about 400 students.

“I chose to meet Robert F. Smith because I just saw his interviews and his podcasts online and I looked at him and I thought, well, I can truly learn something from him that can actually make well, what some would call a short life really worthwhile,” said Jacobs, who lives with cystic fibrosis. “I was like if I can learn strategies from this man that he implemented throughout his life and I can implement them throughout my life, I can possibly make everyone in my family have a better life and make everyone see I'd have a better life if I truly do it the right way.”

Jacobs had no idea about his surprise, even when some of his family members almost let the cat out of the bag.

“They said I was going to go to my graduation party,” Jacobs said. “And whenever I walked in, that reaction on my face was the true reaction because they said it was gonna be a couple of people there, but it was not a couple of people.”

Make-A-Wish Central and Western North Carolina, Maggiano’s Little Italy, along with Belk hosted a surprise wish reveal for Jacobs and his family at SouthPark mall on June 4.

Belk gifted Jacobs with a complimentary suit with dress shoes to wear to his visit. Belk also gifted him with a travel outfit so he could travel to New York in style.
Earlier this month, Jacobs and his family took a trip to the Big Apple to meet Smith. Jacobs had the opportunity to job shadow and experience a day in the life of the highly successful entrepreneur. He got to eat lunch with Smith along with accompany him to a board meeting.

“I just want to thank Make-A-Wish and I definitely want to thank Robert F. Smith, and anyone associated with any division of Make-A-Wish that made this possible for my children because all of them have had a wish come true,” said Kim Jacobs, Jeremiah’s mom.

Jacobs was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at age 13 shortly after his older brother Ivan was diagnosed. His younger sister, Jayla was diagnosed at the age 6, but Jacobs and Ivan were diagnosed when they were older. The only child that was not diagnosed with CF is his older brother Frank.

Cystic fibrosis is a progressive genetic disorder that damages the lungs and the digestive system, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. For a person to be diagnosed with the condition, they must have received two copies of the CFTR gene from both parents.

Although CF is more likely to be diagnosed in white people, the disorder is often misdiagnosed and overlooked in African Americans.

“But it turns out that Black Americans and other ethnic minority groups have more of those rare gene variants and so they may be missed even on the newborn screen,” said Dr. Dennis Schellhase, pediatric pulmonologist at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital.  

“Also, if you were born before 2008 in North Carolina, then the diagnosis may be missed. People born before 2008 in North Carolina or have rare variants are diagnosed based upon symptoms. This results in a delay in diagnosis on average for more than 6 months for individuals with more severe symptoms and possibly years for people with mild symptoms.” Some of the common symptoms include salty skin, sticky mucus, cough, repeated lung infections, abdomen pain, inability to gain weight, and fatty stools.
“I do sweat, and whenever I come home from after a workout, everyone can see salt on my skin,” Jacobs said.

People who live with the illness cannot be within 6 feet of each other. However, biological siblings can be in proximity with each other. Jacobs and his siblings have not had the opportunity to meet another person of color in-person with the disease because of the 6 feet rule. “There are certain germs that people with CF are prone to and they tend to share them,” said Schellhase.

Outside of his diagnosis, Jacobs enjoys fishing, anime, and enjoys acting. He has acted in a few short films. He has a strong passion for technology, web page design, and digital marketing. He currently has his own two websites he manages — Jeremiahjjacobs.com and theblackfisherman.com.

“I do want to get more into business though, because it's pretty intriguing to me, especially Robert Smith’s field,” he said.

The Jacobs don’t let their diagnoses stop them from being creative.

 Jayla, 15, loves to draw and create animations. Ivan, 22, is a junior at UNC Charlotte majoring in exercise science.

Jeremiah and Ivan are developing protein bars to encourage the Black community and people living with CF to eat healthier.

“I'm just grateful as a mother, to be able to birth these wonderful [children],” Kim said.  “I consider them messengers of hope.”

Jacobs, who is a recent high school graduate, is exploring options for college, but also plans to travel more, and impact other people’s lives who live with CF.

“I hope that my mark on this world can be something that goes way beyond me and can affect everyone that has CF,” Jacobs said. “Everyone that is African American, everyone that is even Caucasian, or anything, not just minorities, but I want everyone to be able to have a better life based off my life. No matter how long or short it is.”

On the Net:

robertsmith.com

cff.org/intro-cf/role-genetics-cf

Aaliyah Bowden, who covers health at The Post, is a Report For America corps member.

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