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Tammy Scott-Wallace
Telegraph-Journal

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*** Just before 5 a.m. on Saturday morning, nine-year-old Jacob Vanderlaan died of cancer at his Mercer Settlement Road home surrounded by his family. Just the day before, members of the farming community gathered to give Jake his own personal parade of tractors and other farming equipment he loved so much. ***

Enlarge Photo

Cindy Wilson/Telegraph-Journal

Frank Vanderlaan, left, and his terminally ill son Jacob watch tractors parade past the living room window of their home near Norton.

SUSSEX - Jacob Vanderlaan loves tractors.

So much so that the nine-year-old, who is dying of cancer, told the Children's Wish Foundation he wanted to visit the John Deere factory in Moline, Ill. to see the tractors and other farm implements there.

But the boy everyone knows as 'Jake' is too ill to travel, so the tractors came to him Friday as the extended family that is the farming community around Sussex organized a parade past the boy's home as he lay on a folded-down seat at the living room window.

Wrapped in a fleece, farm-themed blanket, a stuffed cow on his lap, Jake shielded his eyes from the sun with a black cap in one hand, waving excitedly with the other at the familiar faces behind the wheels of the passing farm vehicles.

For one afternoon, the family was able to forget the cancer that mom Julie Vanderlaan described as "extremely aggressive", which has left her son heavily medicated to fight through the pain.

On Jan. 5, Jake was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a terminal cancer, and every day the fast-growing, highly malignant tumours spread more rapidly throughout his tiny body.

"We know what's coming," Julie said, smiling bravely as her eyes showed her pain.

Jake is the third of Julie and Frank Vanderlaan's four children. Prior to his cancer diagnosis he suffered from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a condition that affects only boys and is characterized by rapid muscle degeneration.

"As it was, that meant he would eventually be in a wheelchair and we knew his life would be short," Julie said, never straying far from her little boy in his seat.

In recent weeks farmers in New Brunswick's have kicked in to do the chores around the Vanderlaan barn when there was a job to do, giving the time needed to Julie and Frank to be with their son. They spent many days at the Isaak Walton Killam Health Centre in Halifax before choosing to bring Jake home.

Every day is a challenge, Julie said, but home is where Jake wants to be, and home is where the young family needs him.

"We don't know how much longer we have left," she said. "We are just taking one day at a time and keeping him as pain-free as we can."

Julie knows what is to come soon for her son and she makes the most of their remaining time. Instead of accepting the daily help of an extra-mural nurse, she allows their visits to be a less regular so she can provide the comfort and care Jake needs.

When nearly 50 area farmers made the slow trek on their tractors and other farm machinery of every description to add a bright spot to Jake's life on Friday, Julie said they offered her son the best medicine anyone could receive. There were also fire trucks, a Department of Transportation snowplow and tractor trailers.

"Look at the balloons on this one," Julie said, cuddling Jake and pointing out the window.

While the foundation is still working on a wish for Jake, farming friends led by Sussex John Deere dealer and family friend Peter King created the special parade for Jake. Some equipment was draped in balloons, one grill held a sign saying Jake is #1, others came directly from the barn.

Frank is a second-generation dairy farmer who took over the family farm started by his late father on the Mercer Settlement Road near Norton.

The Vanderlaans belong to what Reg Perry, chairman of the Dairy Farmers of New Brunswick and a Perry Settlement farmer, calls an extended family.

"This is just the way this farming community is," he said before his hour-long trek back to his farm following the parade. "Something like this could happen to any of us - we would do anything for each other to help ease the burden a little.

"We are like an extended family. No matter what happens within the circle, whether it's an illness or a barn fire, everyone pulls together and supports each other."

Few outsiders may realize the connection local farmers have, and their willingness to do anything to help each other.

"If you can do something like this to bring a little joy during such a rough time, you don't hesitate" said Martin Gillis of Belleisle.

Mac MacDonald, also from the Belleisle area, agreed.

"It's very tight when it comes to something like this," he shared. "When there's trouble people come together to help each other out. It wouldn't be this community without that.

"We sit helpless for the most part, so if there's something small like this that we can do to bring pleasure to Jake, none of us would want to miss out on that."

The outpouring of friendship is more than the Vanderlaans could have imagined, and the show of support from their friends and neighbours is giving them strength.

"I never expected this," Julie said. "People are offering to do anything they can, they are just showing up every day to help. It all means so much.

"It's overwhelming. It just makes you so appreciative to be a part of this type of community."