Help this young helper
DEVIN WEEKS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 4 months AGO
Devin Weeks is a third-generation North Idaho resident. She holds an associate degree in journalism from North Idaho College and a bachelor's in communication arts from Lewis-Clark State College Coeur d'Alene. Devin embarked on her journalism career at the Coeur d'Alene Press in 2013. She worked weekends for several years, covering a wide variety of events and issues throughout Kootenai County. Devin now mainly covers K-12 education and the city of Post Falls. She enjoys delivering daily chuckles through the Ghastly Groaner and loves highlighting local people in the Fast Five segment that runs in CoeurVoice. Devin lives in Post Falls with her husband and their three eccentric and very needy cats. | December 17, 2020 1:08 AM
The goodness and kindness that Jacob Markham has shown in his 14 years are inspiring to people of any age.
He has been known to grab a shovel and clear away the snow for a sick neighbor, for whom he also insists on grocery shopping so she doesn't have to go into the community and risk getting sicker.
Jacob, a freshman at Lake City High School, is also known for creating PowerPoint presentations with jokes and encouraging quotes to send to his teachers and parents to lift them up that day.
"We just love the person that he is," his mom, Christy Markham, said in a phone interview Tuesday. "You try to do a good job with your kids, but then totally on their own, they do some cool stuff.
"Jacob takes that to a whole new level," she said, a smile in her voice. "He's his own special creature."
Jacob is presently in recovery mode as he heals from a six-hour emergency operation on his brain. Weeks of headaches and vision problems prompted his mom to take him to the eye doctor on Nov. 30. The doctor called in an ophthalmology specialist, who immediately sent Jacob to the emergency room.
That was a Monday, when a rare craniopharyngioma tumor was found in his brain.
"Then Thursday, they told us, 'We’re scheduling him for surgery at noon, it's coming out now,'" Markham said. "It’s huge. The doctor told us this is just incredibly rare, that they maybe diagnose 200 cases a year in the United States."
She said he could have been born with it and it has just been growing this whole time.
"They’ve removed almost all of it," Markham said. "There's just a tiny little remnant. It's just something he will live with the rest of his life. He has an MRI in three months, and they can't promise anything beyond that."
After surgery and 24 staples in his scalp, Jacob's recovery has been slow and his short-term memory and peripheral vision have been affected.
"He’s always had this, but we found out two weeks ago," Markham said. "Our lives won't be the same after this."
However, Markham said he's finally sounding more like his old self.
"It sounds like him, he's in there," she said.
The generosity that Jacob exudes is in his genes. His mom is the development director at the Salvation Army Kroc Center, where she organizes fundraising events and tirelessly works to support the Salvation Army and her community.
Dad, Ben Markham, is a teacher at Skyway Elementary who has spent years teaching underprivileged kids and creating opportunities for learning and growth through a robotics program.
Ben's parents are the former leaders of the Kroc Center, Majors Ben and Joanne Markham, and Christy's mom, Nancy Larsen, taught in Coeur d'Alene for years and now is the superintendent in Kellogg.
Jacob has always cared about others. In 2018, he was awarded the Idaho Youth Philanthropist of the Year. He has spent many winter break days singing carols and ringing the Salvation Army bell to raise money for his community. This year, he won't be able to, but he has asked that his buddies go for him. And they will.
Even while he's recovering from surgery, Christy said Jacob was well enough to shovel his neighbor's walkway.
"He is making us let her know she can still count on us to pick up groceries," Christy said.
Christmas is going to be extra special in the Markham household as Mom, Dad and little sister Ellie, 8, hold each other and Jacob a little tighter this year.
"I can’t imagine doing this without a partner, between the two of us being there for Jake and keeping it somewhat normal for Ellie," Christy said. "Let’s focus on this minute on this day and not think too much about the future."
Friends have created the "Help Jacob Recover" GoFundMe page to raise at least $10,000 to offset out-of-pocket expenses and ongoing costs not covered by insurance.
When Christy asked Jacob what he misses most and what he's looking forward to doing again, he responded: "The ability to see all my friends and family again. I do miss most of the band and orchestra things I was doing. I think I'll say science, with Mr. Essler."
Info: https://bit.ly/3ntSblW
MORE FRONT-PAGE-SLIDER STORIES
ARTICLES BY DEVIN WEEKS
Lakes Middle School eighth graders explore Civil War through demonstrations
Lakes Middle School eighth graders explore Civil War through demonstrations
Reel dancing was a fine way to spend time in 1800s America. It was popular again Monday during an American Civil War reenactment at Lakes Middle School, where students lined up, faced each other and galloped two-by-two along the rows, dipping and diving through arm arches and clapping along as they gave the Boston Tea Party dance a whirl. “I love the hands-on," eighth grader Jonathan Mohr said. "It’s a lot more educational in my opinion."
North Idaho College's Isakson, Haft are Lewis-Clark State College Alumni of the Year
North Idaho College's Isakson, Haft are Lewis-Clark State College Alumni of the Year
They both graduated from Lewis-Clark State College Coeur d'Alene. They both attended Gonzaga University. They both work as deans at North Idaho College. Now, Vicki Isakson and Tami Haft are both the 2025 Lewis-Clark State College Alumni of the year.
Modern-day wizard showcases science sorcery at Bryan Elementary
Modern-day wizard showcases science sorcery at Bryan Elementary
Science is everywhere. Modern-day wizard David Hagerman made this joyfully apparent Thursday as he showcased his scientific sorcery to wow students at Bryan Elementary School. The Emmy-nominated David Hagerman generated laughter and wonder as he used gravity, electricity, chemical reactions and humor to share just how cool science can be.