The Birthday Wish
This story is about a young man that I have heard about for the past few years and who I have been praying for since hearing about him and his battle with cancer. My cousin teaches him one-on-one and has kept me up to speed on his journey. His strength is incredible. He is an inspiration.
In the story below, the author mentions that James will not be undergoing any additional treatments. This is a decision that his parents left him to make. He decided that rather than go through more pain, he’d prefer to live the remainder of his life as fully and abundantly as possible. Please pray for him and his journey through this life… for his parents and siblings and all those close to him.
The story below is a local story written by Adam Himmelsbach. I’m wishing I would have sent more than just a birthday card.
As his 12th birthday drew closer, James Dobson said he did not need gifts. He has terminal brain cancer and is confined to a wheelchair, and he can barely speak, so at this point in his life he just wanted to know that people cared. He just wanted birthday cards, lots of them. And no one–not the Dobson family, not the U.S. Postal Service–was prepared for what happened next. Before we get to that, though, you have to understand something about James. He loves football the way most people love a day off. His brain tumor was originally found when he was in kindergarten. But the surgery and radiation and chemotherapy did not stop him from attending Chancellor High School’s practices.
His older brother Matt was the Chargers’ starting quarterback, and his father, Danny, was an assistant coach. James was a mascot, manager, water boy and super-fan rolled into one. “The whole team just adopted him,” Matt Dobson said. “He’ll just walk right up and start talking to you, it doesn’t matter who you are.”
When James was 9, the brain tumor returned. He had surgery once again, and there were complications from treatment. His vocal cords were ravaged, he struggled to walk and he had severe pneumonia. But he fought–goodness, did he fight–and the disease went into remission. Then about six months ago, a tumor emerged that was twice as big as the other two and more aggressive than a linebacker. “We’d done the harshest things you can do and hit the tumors with everything there was,” Danny Dobson said, “and we just couldn’t stop it from coming back.” James will not go through another round of treatment. Rather than trying not to die, he is spending his final months focused on living. And that brings us back to that special birthday request.
One of James’ former teachers at Battlefield Elementary School knocked over the first domino by putting the word out on her Facebook page two weeks ago. Then Chancellor assistant football coach Chris Lam contacted a friend who runs a recruiting service and has most of the college football world on speed dial. Then James’ story and home address went viral.
A few cards trickled in as his Sept. 5 birthday approached. Before long, the neighborhood postal worker was dropping large boxes filled with mail on the family’s porch. Some of the return addresses were startling. There were autographed pictures from Alabama coach Nick Saban and South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier. There was an autographed football from Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville and a birthday card from Penn State coach Joe Paterno. There were letters from USC and UCLA, and care packages from Virginia, Virginia Tech, Navy and Marshall. Southern Mississippi and Idaho both invited James to be their guest on the sideline when they play at Virginia later this season. James received telephone calls from Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen and WWE superstar John Cena. Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin sent an autographed jersey and a football from team headquarters. The Massaponax High School marching band even showed up on his front lawn and played a few birthday songs. Football was just a slice of this story, though.
James received a letter from a U.S. soldier in Japan who said he would write again when he arrived in Afghanistan. Another card arrived from Alaska. James has received more than 2,600 pieces of mail in the last two weeks. His parents have read each message aloud as James sits in his wheelchair and listens to every word. “It’s overwhelming what’s taking place,” Danny Dobson said. “It’s amazing how many lives he’s touched.”
James does not make it to many Chancellor football practices anymore. Every once in a while his older brother Matt, who is now an assistant coach, rolls him onto the sideline in his wheelchair. He still asks about the Chargers’ final scores. He still tries to draw up plays. But he doesn’t want a fuss to be made over him and he doesn’t want his life to turn into a farewell tour. All he wants, all he’s ever wanted, is to know that people care.
“Thanks, everyone,” James said quietly, “from the bottom of my heart.”
Thank you David for choosing to share James’ article. He is an inspiration. When I feel that I’m having a tough day, all I have to do is think of him and that puts it all into perspective for me. Tough? That doesn’t even begin to describe his easiest of days. So his strength is amazing and his perspective is always positive. He only wants to be happy and think that way. He’s constantly in fight mode and will be until our Father decides it’s the end.
I think all the time that if only we could all see that our “stuff” really pales in comparison to things that really are tough, things would be different. With my job, I work with children who are terminal and who have been gravely ill for years. Working so closely with families like this gives one a different outlook on daily things. I don’t “sweat” things like I used to because on the grand scheme of things, I just try to see every little moment as a blessing that God has given us.
I think I’m rambling now. I’ve learned so much in the years that I’ve worked with James and the other children that I could type for days. David, thanks again for the ministry that you’re in and for telling James’ story. I love you!