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"Memories are a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose.
~From the television show The Wonder Years
After a most courageous battle with cancer for 28 months, Jacob landed safely in the arms of God and was healed forever on June 12, 2006. He will forever be 6 years old.
In February 2004, Jacob was diagnosed at the age of 3 with adrenocortical carcinoma, a rare cancer of the adrenal gland affecting only 15-20 children in the US a year. To read his diagnosis story and journal history please CLICK HERE.
Jacob was truly an amazing child who lived life to the fullest. He loved singing, dancing, fishing, swimming and going to Walt Disney World. But most of all he loved his brothers. Jacob had a heart of gold and taught us all so much during his short time on earth. He taught us to celebrate life, to walk in faith, to never give up and to always believe in miracles. He touched many lives with his contagious smile and silliness, and he was deeply loved by all who knew him. He was a most precious gift from God, a miracle, a hero, the most Amazing Jacob. He will live in our hearts forever.
Jacob has an older brother, Kyle, who is 9, triplet brothers Brandon & Devin who are 7 and a baby sister, Allie, who we adopted from Guatemala. She was born on February 20, 2007 - which just happens to be the same date that Jacob was diagnosed with cancer. The boys & Allie are such a blessing in our life!
We would like to thank everyone for all the love and support. We are overwhelmed by your generosity and you have touched our hearts and blessed our lives with your compassion, your encouragement and your prayers. May you always know how much your kindness has meant to us. May God bless each of you as you have so graciously blessed our family.
  
For updates on our family - visit our blog . . .
FAITHFUL FROGGERS
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Please click above to request prayers or to pray for those listed.
Journal
Thursday, June 12, 2008 10:44 PM EDT 
Hello friends,
I had every intention of posting this update first thing this morning - but today has been incredibly busy and chaotic and this is the first chance I've had to actually sit at the computer and get it done. But I can't thank you enough for all the sweet messages and e-mails today. When I logged into Jacob's site I was overwhelmed to tears to see all of the guestbook entries. I recognize so many of your names and it touches me greatly that you remembered Jacob's heavenly birthday. THANK YOU! It means so much to us to know that Jacob continues to touch hearts around the world. It is always a fear of mine that he will be forgotten . . . so I can't fully express how grateful I am that you remembered! Below is the update I've been trying to post all day! :)
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"And can it be that in a world so full and busy, the loss of one creature makes a void in any heart so wide and deep that nothing but the width and depth of eternity can fill it up."
Charles Dickens
Hello friends,
It is hard to believe that it was 2 years ago today that our sweet son left his earthly body and made the journey to Heaven. Jacob passed very peacefully at 12:30am on June 12, 2006. He was surrounded by the love of all of our family when he passed away and was healed forever - FREE from the hardships and sufferings of this world!
Time is such a strange thing . . . because some days it feels as if it was just yesterday that Jacob was sitting in my lap and other times it feels as if Jacob has been gone forever. But no matter how much time passes - we think of Jacob everyday and miss him more than words could ever adequately express. His memories flood my mind daily bringing a smile to my face, tears to my eyes and filling my heart with so much love! Oh, how I miss him.
Needless to say, losing Jacob was the most difficult time in our life. Never did I ever think that one of my children would reach Heaven before me . . . the thought was just incomprehensible . . . something I couldn't even begin to imagine. Yet I have learned that life doesn't always work out the way we hope it will . . . and sometimes we have no choice but to do the things we could never imagine.
For the past 2 years, we have walked hand-in-hand with grief. We have felt the enormity of our loss and been overwhelmed at times with our sadness. To say that we miss Jacob just seems so inadequate . . . those words just don't express the ache in our hearts, the pain of his absence, the longing we all have to hold him again. We miss him tremendously every single day of our lives.
Yet, in the midst of our grief we have always felt God's presence . . . loving us, comforting us and filling our hearts with peace above all understanding. Many people have asked how we can trust God after all that has happened . . . but I always wonder how can we not? I can't imagine walking through this valley of grief without Him - for it is by His grace alone that we live each day with joy and hope. It is so easy to blame God and become angry and bitter when we are faced with hardships. But we live in a fallen, broken world where sin, sickness, evil and death are a part of this life. No one can escape the hardships on earth . . . but God has given us endless HOPE with the promise of eternal life and He has given us unconditional LOVE through Jesus. All we have to do is BELIEVE!
In this dark world of sin and pain
We only meet to part again;
But when we reach the heavenly shore,
We there shall meet to part no more.
The joy that we shall see that day
Shall chase our present griefs away.
~Author Unknown~
Today we remember Jacob and thank God for the 6 years he blessed our life on earth. We remember his silliness and the way he shook his booty. We remember those beautiful blue eyes and the way he sang, "I love Rock-N-Roll." We remember his big hugs and sweet kisses on our cheeks. We remember his giggle and his love for his brothers. We remember his giving spirit and his strength. We remember his love for Jesus and his unshakeable faith. We remember the way he danced and celebrated life - no matter what his circumstances were. We remember his prayers and his love for roller coasters. We remember snuggling with him at night and the way he laughed when you tickled him. We remember his joy, his love and his light that shined - always. We remember our son - our most Amazing Jacob. And today we remember that Jacob is healed from cancer - happy and safe in the arms of God!
"Although the time of remembering our loved one's passing always tugs at our hearts, the assurance of their joys in heaven helps us move on with comfort and a confident hope that we will see each other again."
Roy Lessin
I thank God everyday for the gift of Jacob. Jacob changed our lives in so many ways . . . drawing us closer to God and teaching us to celebrate each day. He helped us understand that this life is not our home . . . we are just passing through on our way to Heaven. Our whole family lives life a little differently now because of the lessons Jacob taught us all! His life was short - but his purpose on this earth was BIG!
Below are some slideshows of Jacob. They make me laugh and cry - and bring back such a flood of memories. Some days I have such a need to see his sweet face . . . to surrender to the grief and let it wash over me.
Read Journal History
Hospital Information: Heaven's Amazing Angel
© Copyright 2004-2007
All rights reserved to Don & Heather Duckworth
Links: http://fastercure.org Pediatric Cancer Foundation
http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=2c9cb45c25b93978cae8b5&skin_id=1009&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url Slideshow of the Boys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kvcvi1IioSY Faces of Childhood Cancer Slideshow
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