Tractor Parade

Jacob Vanderlaan of Sussex, New Brunswick loved tractors. After he was diagnosed with terminal cancer, the 9-year-old made his request to the Children's Wish Foundation. He wanted to visit the John Deere factory in Moline, Illinois.
But the boy everyone knows as 'Jake' is too ill to travel, so the tractors came to him Friday as the extended family that is the farming community around Sussex organized a parade past the boy's home as he lay on a folded-down seat at the living room window.

Wrapped in a fleece, farm-themed blanket, a stuffed cow on his lap, Jake shielded his eyes from the sun with a black cap in one hand, waving excitedly with the other at the familiar faces behind the wheels of the passing farm vehicles.

For one afternoon, the family was able to forget the cancer that mom Julie Vanderlaan described as "extremely aggressive", which has left her son heavily medicated to fight through the pain.

Over 50 farmers rode tractors and other farm equipment to Jake's home -they were the same farmers who had been helping the family in every way possible since Jacob's illness was diagnosed.
"I never expected this," Julie said. "People are offering to do anything they can, they are just showing up every day to help. It all means so much.

"It's overwhelming. It just makes you so appreciative to be a part of this type of community."

Jacob died the day after the tractor parade. Link -via Fark

(image credit: Cindy Wilson/Telegraph-Journal)

Newest 5
Newest 5 Comments

Oh my.. My heart is broken to have read this story, yet so filled with joy that people did this for him.
Believe it or not..I found this story will searching for the news story on WVIR TV that they did today on my father. Local farmers did a tractor parade for my dad who is dying from colon cancer. I cannot tell you how happy this made my father and how blessed with are that those guys gave us such a wonderful memory.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Very sweet. I think our local farmers would respond in much the same way. He certainly would love it in central Illinois, there is a John Deere dealer in just about every town near me.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Login to comment.




Email This Post to a Friend
"Tractor Parade"

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More