In Memory of Jakob Chromey
Jakob loved pizza, pasta, burgers, video games, movies, sports, animals (more than people if I’m being honest) and had a lifelong love of superheroes.
In January 2023, Jakob was 21 years old and in his 4th year at Georgia State University, studying Film and Media. One evening, alone in his dorm room, he suddenly was unable to move his arm, and then his leg, followed by his face beginning to droop. Thankfully, he called his dad, who told him to leave his room and ask someone at the front desk to call an ambulance. The ambulance drove Jakob to the hospital while his dad followed behind.
After a CT scan that showed a brain bleed, Jakob underwent emergency brain surgery. The biopsies taken from his brain and scalp showed stage 4 metastatic melanoma. I promised him I was going to fight this fight with him every single step of the way and we all assured him he was not alone.
After brain surgery, Jakob went to Shepherd Center for 6 weeks to undergo intense rehab to regain leg and arm function. We witnessed many amazing things while he was at Shepherd Center, but his strength and resilience were the most amazing of all. There were many times when the therapists would ask him if he wanted to stop or keep going and he would always choose to continue.
In March of 2023, after regaining the strength to walk, Jakob was ready to start immunotherapy. We were so hopeful.
Wednesdays were his infusion days, but they were also New Comic Book release days, So, every 3 weeks, after his infusion, we would eat lunch and pick up several new comic books to make infusion days a little more tolerable. This was truly the highlight of Jakob’s week since his world had been turned upside down.
In May of 2024, Jakob’s routine 3-month CT scan showed metastases to his bone, liver and lungs. He would have to stop immunotherapy and move onto targeted medications. While he had few side effects with immunotherapy, the targeted medications were not kind to his body. He encountered several severe side effects from these meds.
In December of 2024, Jakob started having random vomiting episodes. After several phone calls and ER visits, we learned that Jakob had hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid in spaces within the brain. Days later, he was diagnosed with leptomeningeal disease. The cancer had gone to his cerebrospinal fluid and the membranes surrounding his brain.
On January 16th, 2025, Jakob died in the hospital. He was 23 years old.
Jakob never believed he was as sick as he was. At least, he never shared that with us. When he was given this diagnosis, it was like we were all alone on an island with no help from anyone. Doctors that helped him the previous two years could no longer help, and the new doctors in the hospital could not take him on. They only told us to get him to Emory, which was ultimately denied via transfer for reasons unknown. Google was our only resource.
So, while melanoma and leptomeningeal disease may have taken our son, it has not taken us. As I promised him in the hospital in January 2023, I am continuing this fight every single step. We will not stop fighting for better early detection guidelines, more awareness and ultimately a cure. We will continue to use our voice for all the fighters, the caregivers, the survivors and the dear ones we all have lost and especially for our forever superhero, Jakob.
We honor all those affected by leptomeningeal cancer.
All funds will be used to support the education of patients and healthcare providers, and for research to find new treatments. By supporting us, you are giving others hope and helping to save lives.
Thank you for your generous support.
If you’d like to mail a check, please make the check out to: Leptomeningeal Cancer Foundation and mail to: Leptomeningeal Cancer Foundation, 1495 Canyon Blvd, #460, Boulder, CO 80302