Jacob Linn was a sweet and loving boy whose faith and joy touched every heart around him. At only four years old, Jacob was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer.
Jacob loved superheroes, Paw Patrol, and reading his Bible. Jacob found happiness in simple moments with his family, from wrestling with his dad to lively dance parties with his siblings before bedtime as they tried to get all their energy out.
On September 21, 2021, one day before his sixth birthday, Jacob was called home to Heaven. Surrounded by his family, he exchanged suffering for perfect joy in the presence of the Lord.
Jacob’s Joy, Inc. was created in his memory to share that same joy and hope with children and families facing their own battles.
Our Mission
Jacob’s Joy, Inc. exists to bring light, laughter, and lasting memories to children facing cancer, living with disabilities, and those courageously battling life-altering diseases. Through free carnival days at children’s hospitals and free family retreats we create spaces where kids and their families can experience joy, community, and the freedom of play. Guided by compassion and inclusion, our mission is to lift burdens, and remind families that they are never alone.
When Jacob woke from emergency brain surgery, he was left paralyzed and unable to speak. He had always been a talkative, loving, and outgoing boy, so losing his ability to communicate was especially hard. But even though he could barely move his arms, one of the first things he was able to do was make the “I love you” hand sign, something he and his parents had shared since he was little.
His parents weren’t sure how much of what they were saying was getting through to him. Seeing that familiar sign let them know he could hear them and was responding. In the middle of everything he was going through, Jacob found a way to tell them he loved them. The “I love you” hand sign in our logo honors that moment.