Terminally ill teen’s ‘amazing’ adventure
A terminally ill teenager has blasted through his bucket list in a South Island family adventure, thanks to the donations and support of hundreds of considerate Kiwis.
Jacob Coker has synovial sarcoma, a rare tissue cancer only seen in one in threemillion people, and his doctors expect he has just two years left to live.
As he settles back in at home after a six-week sojourn, Jacob is pleased to have created somany happymemories with his family after packing in lifetime of living into one trip, with fast cars, limos, submarines and helicopter rides.
‘‘All of it was just so amazing,’’ he said.
His parents, Greg and Amanda Coker, planned the trip with Jacob and his three siblings for months, but they struggled to manage the budget after Greg Coker had to take extended leave from work due to an injury.
Then more than $27,000 was donated to help the family fund the trip via Givealittle, and dozens of businesses and individuals set Jacob up with accommodation and experiences after reading about Jacob’s story on Stuff.
Amanda Coker said it was a surreal, once-in-a-lifetime experience for the whole family.
‘‘Honestly the best of it was just seeing the kids so happy ... Jacob’s smile never left this face for the whole trip.’’
Jacob said picking a favourite experience from the trip wasn’t easy. But a visit to Bill Richardson Transport World in Invercargill was hard to beat for pure, cathartic, destructive joy.
‘‘I got to operate an excavator, and just absolutely crush a car – that was a lot of fun.’’
Then again there was Hydro Attack, the world’s first commercial operator of the Seabreacher X semisubmersibles.
The shark-shaped two-seater craft can reach 80 kilometres per hour on the surface and dive underwater at 40kmh, before bursting out of the water to leap into the air.
Jacob said he could feel a lot of pressure as the craft dove into the water, then it was suddenly gone.
‘‘It was cool and terrifying at the same time.’’
The simpler things, such as enjoying quiet moments and laughs with his family and the natural beauty of the South Island, also left an indelible impression on the teenager.
Although conditions didn’t line up for Jacob to see the Southern Lights, he did get to soak in the snow and scenery on a helicopter ride to the top of the Southern Alps.
‘‘[And] Te Anau was so beautiful too. That’s a place I will never forget.’’