Perry senior Jacob Medina meets fight with leukemia head on

March 22-- Mar. 22--Jacob Medina is known as a healthy, caring teenager who goes out of his way to help others at Perry High School.

So when he was diagnosed with B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, it sent shockwaves throughout the Perry community.

"Everyone was heartbroken and surprised," said CJ Valdez, Medina's cousin and a Perry senior infielder. "He's so athletic and strong, you wouldn't expect him to be the one that has this."

Medina, a 17-year-old senior, was a pitcher on Perry's baseball team for three seasons.

He joined the BlueChip Arizona Baseball Academy this season, a team for players not competing with their high schools.

With small-colleges recruiting him, Medina began an extensive workout regimen with the club. He began to have pain in his ribs in early March, but he and his mother, Krystal, thought it was a minor injury.

"I took him to urgent care and they thought it was just a muscle strain, which I thought made sense given his workouts," Krystal said. "We started him on anti-inflammatory medication and it got better for a week or so, but then the pain came back."

Krystal, who is a surgical nurse at Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, urged him to take it easy. But Medina continued to work out.

Krystal and Jacob's father, Mike, took him and a friend who was visiting for spring break out to dinner last Friday. A ghostly look came across Jacob's face and he told his parents he needed to go home.

"I could see how pale his face was and his hands were almost corpse-like," Krystal said. "He kept telling me how cold he was and that he couldn't breathe."

Medina went home instead of to an emergency room. He had to drive down to Tucson Saturday to meet with a college baseball coach. Despite not feeling well, he made the trip.

"I thought it would be a quick turnaround trip so he would be fine," Krystal said. "We ended up staying and watching some of their game and then he talked to the coach after.

"After that, he looked at me and said he couldn't make it home."

Medina was drained of color, as tiny red patches appeared on his neck and arms from blood vessels breaking while trying to spread oxygen throughout his body. He also had chest pain.

Medina was rushed to Banner University Hospital in Tucson. X-rays were taken on his chest and blood tests were conducted. Doctors informed Jacob and his parents that they suspected Leukemia.

"I didn't know what to think," Medina said. "I sat back for a second and took it in. I asked when I could play again and when I would be OK."

Doctors wanted to admit Medina, but his 15-year-old brother, Casey, was back home in Gilbert. Doctors tried to arrange an ambulance to transport him to Phoenix Children's Hospital due to his critical condition, but one wasn't available until the morning.

That wasn't an option. His parents loaded him into the car and they rushed back to the Valley.

"I honestly don't remember the drive here," Mike said. "I've been asked multiple times how fast I was going and I can't remember. I knew I just had to get him to care as fast as possible."

The three arrived at PCH around midnight and were immediately taken into the ER. On Monday, Medina had his first round of chemotherapy injected into his spinal fluid.

"Things have moved pretty quickly here," Krystal said. "I just can't believe how good he was doing considering he was in the beginning stages."

#jacobstrong pic.twitter.com/Jaqllg7sex

-- Adam (@adamparra7) March 20, 2019

There has been an outpouring of support for Medina since his diagnosis. A GoFundMe was set up in his honor to help with medical costs. More than $5,600 was raised in four days.

Orange stickers shaped like a ribbon as well as bracelets and shirts with #JacobStrong were made. The Perry baseball and softball teams put #JacobStrong stickers on the back of their batting helmets. The softball team also tied orange ribbons to their gloves. Proceeds from funds raised go to Medina's family.

"It's really cool to see how everyone is coming together," Valdez said. "It's nice to see what everyone is willing to do when something bad happens."

Medina is remaining positive. A characteristic he had growing up.

"He stays strong through everything," said Tyler Valdez, CJ's younger brother and a Perry junior pitcher. "But it's scary."

Medina doesn't know when he can return home. He received his fourth chemo treatment on Thursday.

"It's tough at times," Mike said. "My whole thing is, as a parent, you have to protect your kid and we wanted to do that as much as possible. But he keeps telling me that it is just another addition to his story."

Medina will spend his 18th birthday Saturday in the hospital, a thought that never crossed his mind just weeks ago. Even through all of the pain, he keeps a positive outlook.

"I know I have to have a good attitude through this whole thing," Medina said. "Especially in something like this, the fastest way out is to have a good attitude.

"With that I believe you can overcome anything you want no matter how hard it may seem."

To make a donation toward the Jacob Fights Back GoFundMe campaign, visit gf.me/u/rmmi38.

Have an interesting story? Contact Zach Alvira at zalvira@timespublications.com and follow him on Twitter @ZachAlvira.

___

(c)2019 East Valley Tribune (Mesa, Ariz.)

Visit East Valley Tribune (Mesa, Ariz.) at www.eastvalleytribune.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.