Less than a year after leukemia diagnosis, Xavier player starts on Senior Night
By Jeff Dahn
 The Gazette
CEDAR RAPIDS — The first standing ovation rose rapidly from the Cedar Rapids Xavier students section in Xavier’s Ron Thillen Gymnasium. It spread quickly to the adults section and was soon a gymwide event, with everyone respectfully cheering and clapping.
  It happened during Senior Night introductions between games of a Xavier-Dubuque Senior sophomore-varsity doubleheader Friday night when Kyle Jacoby and his parents, Kevin and Nancy, were introduced. The folks in the gym were just getting warmed up.

Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette - Cedar Rapids Xavier’s Kyle Jacoby (middle) sits with Eric Schreck (left) and Nate Joens as they wait to be introduced before the start of the Saints’ game against Dubuque Senior on Friday night at Xavier High School. Jacoby, who was diagnosed with leukemia in March, played his first game of the season Friday night.

  The second standingO came when Kyle Jacoby was introduced as one of five senior starters for the Saints. The third broke loose when he left the game just 1 minute, 27 seconds into the action.
  Jacoby’s one shot, a 15footer, just barely rimmed out. He played no role in the Saints’ loss to Senior, but no player was more appreciated.
  And no player was more grateful or anxious.
  “I’m really excited,” the soft-spoken Jacoby said a couple of hours before tipoff. “I had trouble sleeping last night.” Senior nights are special at every high school, this one even more so. Jacoby, a 6-foot-4 senior who was the Saints’ only returning starter from last season, was making his 2008-09 varsity debut.
  Thin, with hair just starting to grow back, Jacoby soaked in the moment, joined by his parents, teammates and coaches, and a gym full of appreciative supporters. Still in a struggle for his life, Jacoby was back in his element for 87 fleeting seconds.
 . . .
  Kyle Jacoby became ill last March 17 with a tem perature of 103 degrees and a sore throat that made it nearly impossible for him to swallow. He was given tests for mononucleosis, but those tests instead revealed an abnormal white blood cell count. He was sent to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City for more tests, and March 20 was diagnosed with leuke mia.
  “I was more confused than anything,” Jacoby said. “I didn’t think anything could happen to me, and I really didn’t understand what was going to happen at the time.” He began once-a-week chemotherapy treatments, but several months into those there was a major set back. In September, Jacoby was taken to the hospital with severe stomach cramps and was diagnosed with pancreatitis. He spent most of September and October hospitalized.
  Jacoby underwent surgery to remove a cyst related to the pancreatitis and wasn’t able to eat on his own for several weeks. He lost about 15 pounds off his already-slender frame.
  “That took the basketball out for him and that was very hard for him to accept,” Kevin Jacoby said. “What that did was delay an intensive chemotherapy phase.” The hospital stay took its toll.
  “It was very difficult for him. He was away from his friends and his school, and it was difficult,” Nancy Jacoby said.
  It was yet another challenge in a year full of them.

Jim Slosiarek photos/The Gazette - Cedar Rapids Xavier’s Kyle Jacoby touches a Saints banner before leading the team onto the court before the start of a game against Dubuque Senior on Friday in Cedar Rapids. Jacoby has attended every Saints game this season despite undergoing chemotherapy sessions every Tuesday. He got his only start Friday on Xavier’s Senior Night.

  “It’s been life and death challenges.
  Being sick challenges, missing his junior and senior years challenges,” Kevin said. “He’s been the most courageous of (anyone). Unfortunately, he has to be.” “It’s been tough,” Kyle said. “But with my friends here at school and with my family, it’s been a lot easier.”
 . . .
  Jacoby’s basketball teammates and coaches have kept him pushing forward, but not as much as he has inspired them. He hasn’t missed a game despite chemotherapy sessions every Tuesday. He even made the long bus ride to Dubuque on Tuesday just hours after a session.
  “It helps a lot,” Jacoby said. “Just being with the team, the guys make me feel like I’m still a member of the team and stuff.” Nate Joens, Jacoby’s best friend and senior teammate, has experienced adversity of his own. Joens had two knee surgeries that cost him 15 games last season and made him a doubtful contributor early this season. Joens, like the other Saints players, has learned from Jacoby to keep his own challenges in perspective.
  “He’s been real good for us,” Joens said. “It’s just been tough for him going through all this, and he’s handled it real well. I can’t imagine how he deals with it, but he’s been positive and really helps out with our guys, keeping us up for the games.

Basketball player Kyle Jacoby stands with his mother, Nancy, and father, Kevin, during Cedar Rapids Xavier Senior Night ceremonies before the start of the Saints’ game Friday.

  “Every time before a game, I look at my scars on my knees and I look at Kyle, and I think about how bad he wants to be out there playing with us.
  It motivates me to play harder.” Joe Barrer is in his first season as

Xavier’s coach and has been touched by Jacoby’s courage. The young coach balances keeping his young team focused on the game while also keeping sight of Jacoby’s daily battles.
  “There were days when we were at practice and we’re working hard,” Barrer said. “We’re trying to push the guys and then try to make them realize we had an easy day. Kyle had a blood transfusion. I told him at the beginning of the year, ‘Your competitor is cancer.’ He’s competing to fight cancer every day, and that’s not an easy opponent.
  “We’ve had a tough schedule and some ups and downs as a team. We (might) face Linn-Mar (and) if that’s our biggest challenge, that’s nothing compared to what Kyle is going through.” Jacoby plans to attend college in the fall and will have to do so close to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, where his treatments continue. Barring unforeseen setbacks, he will go in for his final session July 27, 2011. Contact the writer: (319) 368-8841 or jeff.dahn@gazcomm.com

Jacoby warms up before the start of the Saints’ game Friday.