By: Tammy Curtis, Managing Editor
One thing is for certain, when anyone in the area suffers a hardship, whether it be natural causes or health related, communities show up with prayers, support and funds. Jacob Moore, an 18 year old senior Cave City standout athlete has been given a tough diagnosis just days after beginning his last basketball season of his high school career. Just after New Years, Jacob began suffering from extreme fatigue and visited his family doctor before being referred to Arkansas Children’s Hospital. He and his family quickly made that trip to Children’s where he underwent a series of tests and awaited his diagnosis. On Jan. 7 Moore and his family received news no one ever wants to hear, the diagnosis of B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia B-ALL. Moore is captain of the Caveman football, basketball and soccer teams, works with youth in the K-4 basketball program and is an honor student. His long time girlfriend Esther Bellar and sister Maddie Verser immediately set up a GoFund Me account when they received the difficult news. With a goal of reaching $3,000,the funds were sur-passed in less than half an hour. After reaching$23,185 just one week later, she raised the goal to $30,000 and donations are steadily pouring in to help this well loved young man. Besides funds, prayers from all across the state came in for Jacob. Ja-cob’s parents, Randal and Diane Moore, have continued to be gracious for the outpouring of support for their son. Besides the GoFundMe, an account at Bank of Cave City was also set up as well as nearly$500 was collected on Jan. 14 at the Highland basketball games. While Jacob began his chemotherapy on Jan.9, several locals made their way to Children’s Hospital to show their support, even if they could not get in to see him. One includes ESPN Razorback Super-fan Canaan Sandy. Sandy has heart of gold and has made it an effort to get support and prayers for Jacob from his Razorback faithfuls and sportscaster Jay Bilas. Cave City showed their support for Jacob on Jan. 13 as orange ribbons, wreaths and balloons stood testament to passers by of the community’s love for Jacob. Orange signs, banners, clothing, and hats were donned all around the city in sup-port of Jacob. Orange shirts were made and sold in sup-port of Jacob. One local business, Paired UpGraphics even donated the proceeds of shirts sold to provide warmup shirts for the basket-ball team with Jacobs name on them. At the Jan. 14 Cave City and Tuckerman basketball games, teams joined hands and hearts on the court in prayer for him. Highland Student Council is challenging HHS YOU Path classes to see which class can raise the most money for Moore. The fun competitive fundraiser will also help the Moore family with the escalating expenses. The money students raise will be donated when the Rebels play the Cavemen on Tuesday, Feb 7 at Highland While Jacob’s diagnosis is tough, doctors maintain the prognosis is optimistic. His mother provided an update on Jan. 15.“Thank you to every-one for all the prayers, love, support, calls, texts and for all the awesome other things being done for our Ja-cob. Our hearts have been touched by so many . We were so up-set by the news and were shocked when we were told He had BAcute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, It took a few days to even be able to think straight. Jacob has had a wonderful team of nurses and his doc-tor David Becton has been so good to him. The doctor told us this is at least a two year journey, He’s assured Jacob when he’s cured he will be there to ring the bell with him. Today Jacob has had another round of chemo and two blood transfusions. We are going home to-day. Jacob will have to come back on Tuesday for another spinal tap more chemo and an-other blood transfusion. He will continue on this schedule each Tuesday for four weeks, then we get a new schedule. We ask that everyone please continue to Pray him Well. We truly thank everyone for loving our Jacob.”
Tammy Curtis