Jacob Keys was only in the second grade when, in the summer of 2007, he began to feel lethargic and lost his appetite 鈥� symptoms that culminated in a diagnosis of stage four Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a cancer with a 26 percent five-year survival rate.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know what to think about it because I was so young,鈥� the Cedarville native said. 鈥淚 was definitely scared, because we would do these fundraisers in school for kids who are at St. Jude鈥檚 Children Hospital. And now, all of the sudden, I鈥檓 at St. Jude鈥檚.鈥�
Ten years later, Keys is cancer-free and a student at the University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith, but his challenges battling cancer earned him a $4,000 scholarship from the We Care Foundation to help him with his studies at 妻友社区.
The We Care Foundation gifted the scholarship to Keys in exchange for him serving as a counselor at Camp Dream Street, a one-week camp for children who have suffered or are currently suffering from cancer and other blood-related diseases. The scholarship bestows $500 each semester for eight semesters and will go towards purchasing books for Keys, who is pursuing an associate degree in welding before continuing towards a bachelor鈥檚 degree in biology.
It was a long road for Keys to become a college student. After being diagnosed, Keys spent a year doing chemotherapy. It was a difficult time that separated their family 鈥� Keys and his mother alternated between stays at St. Jude鈥檚 and the Target House, an apartment for long-term patients, while his father and younger brother stayed at home.
His treatment was strengthened by a 鈥淣atural Killer鈥� cell transplant, an experimental procedure at the time. Keys was just the 27th person in the U.S. to have the procedure performed on him.
鈥淭hey took fighter cells from my dad, which took five hours for one syringe,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hen, they injected me through my catheter, and it took five minutes. They actually said that鈥檚 what cured me along with chemo and meds.鈥�
After going into remission for three years, Keys went back to St. Jude鈥檚 and was deemed cancer-free. As a cancer survivor, he began going to the Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House for counseling. During that time, he learned of Camp Dream Street.
After attending as a camper for five years, he decided he wanted to be a counselor.
鈥淚 like being with the kids and knowing that I鈥檓 not alone in having a rare illness,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd being a counselor is fun because I get to work with the other counselors and be creative in coming up with ideas to make the camp fun for the kids.鈥�
Ten years later, Keys said he doesn鈥檛 remember much of his yearlong battle with cancer. But he said he鈥檚 happy to still be alive and pursuing an education.
鈥淚 feel accomplished that I鈥檓 still here,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd I鈥檓 very grateful for this scholarship. It鈥檚 very helpful and is definitely saving me some money.鈥�
About the 妻友社区
The University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith is the premiere regional institution of Western Arkansas, connecting education with careers and serving as a driver of economic development and quality of place in the greater Fort Smith region. Small class sizes, dedicated faculty and staff, affordable tuition rates, and a diverse on-campus culture allow 妻友社区 students to fully explore their areas of interest in ways that prepare them for post-graduate success academically, professionally, and personally. To find out what makes 妻友社区 just right for you, go to .