Jake's Take

Well shit. Xoxoxo, strength and love.

Live strong, Jake! The maze of twisted passages just a bit more twisty, but we know you can navigate through them.

I’m so sorry for hear about the setback. You and Linda & the kids are never far from m thoughts. We have your artwork (via calendars) from stem to stern in our little house.
Hang in there strong Jake.
Much love from Guy & Tara

Keep visualizing those tumors getting smaller and smaller. Don’t give up….ever. Healing, loving thoughts Jake and family.

Damn. Another detour for now….we are with you all the way. Bless all of you and know we are always thinking of you and praying for you. See you later, Jake…Ayo

You remain in my thoughts and prayers. May God continue to give you the courage, strength and positive attitude that you have displayed throughout this journey.

Sorry to read this, will burn a candle for you. Keep up hope. Hugs en love for the whole family.

Hi Jake!

This is bad and sad news.

We hope the new treatment will get you back on the right track. Keep faith, stay strong, how difficult it will be.

Linda & kids: please give all the love you can give to Jake, it will help.

Harrie & Carmelita
Maasbree

In my prayers.

Harrie, the shorter Richters have been taking excellent care of me. Especially my goddess Linda

Jake & Family, hang in there and lots of light and positive energy my friend. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Be good and love. D

If somebody can defeat this attack on your health it is you Jake. You often inspired us, now all your friends are inspiring you to hang on!

Ok it sucks..now turn it around and focus your attention that these new drugs will heal you and that your body is whole and healthy…attention and focus to the desired outcome..I can imagine it’s hard to overlook the reality but try….I have HUGE optimism.

It is always inspiring to see how you are never alone, Jake. So many people sending you prayers and energy. I start at Mass General next month on Lunder 10, and if you are too beat to come find me, then I will find you! Love to Linda.

Bummer, BUT radiation and Yervoy will do their jobs. Let us celebrate the wonders of 21st century medical science and your indomitable spirit, Jake. Wonderful seeing you and Linda last week.
Hugs and love,
Tish

Leah, the new Lunder building at MGH is beautiful, you will love it. My ipi doses will be administered by IV on Yawkey 8. See you soon!

My God Jake…..Stay strong my friend. Thoughts and prayers and much love.

crap.
but melanoma went after the wrong guy.
Go, warrior, go!

Holding you and your family tight with love and prayers! Also sending prayers for the medical teams battling on your behalf!

well…..crap!
big hugs…love you!

Oh crap, Jake. I am bummed to hear this. The hurdles keep coming. Hope to make it to Boston before too long to give you a hug.

Disappointing news. Hoping for improvement after next treatments. Best wishes for a turn around. Crap.

This was NOT what I wanted to hear! Good thoughts coming your way from up North!

Hugs to all..

First reaction: a fierce curse… (not to be repeated)
Then… silence and only positive, healing thoughts and prayers @ you, beautiful Jake.
Praise to Linda, Krystyana and Bas for taking such good care of/with you (truly amazing family you are!),

Super Hug and lots of love,
Kitty

just a minor setback Jake! you can overcome it! look how far you’ve come! positive thoughts & prayers are with you all! we are thinking of you!

I believe in what most people have said..the mind is a powerful tool, positive thoughts, focus on seeing the tumor free Jake,stay strong, upbeat and humourous! Hugs to you, Linda and the kids.
You have a wonderful support group and you are having this treatment at a great hospital; so, although I too agree this setback sucks, your strength and willpower and the new drugs will take aim at these tumors and knock them out of the ballpark!
Big Hugs to all of you xo
Meryl and Steve

I echo the above comments… and continue to generate positive energy and images for the entire Richter family. Jean S.

Jake, while I am very sad and extremely disappointed to read this, I KNOW how strong you are and I know that you have an incredible safety net in your friends and Linda and the kids. Lean on them as much as you can for additional strength right now. I can tell from the post, you sound angry, and I don’t blame you. You’ve done all you can up to this point, but you must KEEP doing it! Have your moment to be angry and then focus on the blog post you will write when you are healthy with NED, and headed back to your paradise with your family for the rest of your long and cancer-free life. The Baum family is sending you all the love, prayers and strength we have right now. Much love!

My dear friend….our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. If there is ANYTHING you need or want, please let us know. I can emphathize with you, Linda, Krystyana and Bas. Your amazing positive attitude and outlook are what have gotten you this far and will allow you to continue the fight. Have your anger, express it, then let it go (I know, easier said than done). Return to that driving, positve attitude we have seen over the last year or so. Another surgery is scheduled for me by the end of next month, so if you are up to it, Ed and I would love to come visit in Boston in April. Hugs, prayers and love!! Ed and Liz

Well (bleep) (bleep) (bleep)! (BLEEEEP) Melanoma!!! You have every right to be angry and even disappointed. The family and friends you have surrounding you will support and strengthen you at this time. Keeping you, your family and your doctors in my prayers. You can and will get past this setback. Continue the good fight, Warrior.

Dear Jake,

We are pooling all our strength, love, and positive thoughts to support you, Linda, Krystyana and Bas through the coming weeks and months. We send big hugs your way and you are always in our thoughts and hearts. We’ll focus positively on the power of the next set of treatments and the power of love in your family and supporters.

Love you,

Ann

Nicholas has the calendar this year, right next to the psychedelic poster he made over Christmas break. You and Linda are famous in our house! We love you Jake — all the Oxaals are praying for you and your family.

I read this last night before going to bed and just couldn’t come up with words to say how sad I am about this. Many prayers and hopes coming your way for success with the yervoy and the advent of even better meds in the near future.
Hugs & prayers from Alison and I.

Jake, cuss word cuss word cuss word cuss word….BUT, don’t give up melanoma warrior. You have much more to do in this terra firma, and if anyone can kick this cancer butt, you can. I know there are probably no words that anyone can say or write that will make you feel any better, different, or be encouraging in any way. But, you ARE Posideon my friend…and I am gonna start saying the h o o’ ponopono mantra even more often for you and this “cuss word” melanoma.

I love you my friend. You ARE an inspiration to many.

Hugs and Love,

Cynde

So sorry to read this Jake. Hugs, prayers and nothing but good thoughts coming your way!

jake, we have so much confidence in you. you are going to beat this. our prayers are with you. hang in there. tell linda and the kids they are in our prayers too.

pat and mary

The support of your family and friends is so uplifting to read! I want to simply reiterate all of the hope and optimism for your health; admiration of your courage and determination; anger that you and your family are having to fight this battle; and the thanks to Linda and the kids for taking good care of you.
As said above, fight hard!

Positive healing thoughts and light coming your way, Jake! I do hope your time in Bonaire has restored the fight in you and will spur you on to tackle this latest turn. New drugs mean new promise for a total recovery. To NED! Keep up the good fight! I’m also praying for your wonderful team of doctors, nurses and family; God give them strength to help you through this!

Buddy, you are never far from my thoughts and send yoga love everyday. I still believe in Jake and his ability to beat even melanoma. Anything you need, you know I am here.

You are a fighter and this is just one obstacle you can overcome. The technology in treating this and the medical advances are rapidly advancing each day. I have faith that between these factors and your positive, realistic outlook will make this just a blip on the radar in years to come. Stay Strong Jake, you have a mulititude of people behind you!

So sorry to hear the dissapointing news. Stay strong my friend. It is just another curve in the path toward NED!!!! Positive thoughts and prayers are sent to you and your family as you continue on this journey full of twists and turns.HUGE COMFORTING HUGS!!!! Darlene

Oh Yea!! I forgot…. Melanoma does SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jake,
So sorry to hear about this setback. Keep pluggin’. You are a deep inspiration to us. You and your family are always in our thoughts and prayers. Miss sharing classes with you.
All Best.

Jake, wishing all the best as you beat this!

There is no doubt you will beat this. One hundred percent certainty! All good wishes are going your way.

Jake, we continue to think of you, Linda and the kids. Know that we are praying and will not stop!

Dang! Melanoma DOES SUCK. What a p*ss poor way to start the new year. We are sending you every good wish there is! We are always impressed and amazed at your spirit and we miss you and Linda and the kids. All of you live in love. To NED!

Best wishes with the fancy new drug. Try to get something positive and pleasurable from each day and don’t take ANOTHER course of radiation [followed by more chemo] even if it’s offered. Fight on.

So sorry to hear this Jake — Alan and I are sending you ALL our love, and healing thoughts. You are a SURVIVOR, I know that!!
Bonaire will wait for you … just take care of yourself and get better… I love you, dear friend!

As one other friend wrote…”Well, SHIT.”

So many folks are praying for you Jake. You simply must get well and be back on top at the island. I am counting on seeing you restored this June. This last obstacle simply means one more victory, bud.

You’ll beat it, Jake. You’ll beat it.

I,m sorry to hear of this setback. Your attitude in this situation impresses me. Hang in there my friend. All best wishes to you and your family.
Mick McCarthy

My heart sank so very deep when I read this. My first reaction is that it is just not fair. Why are there are no ‘fairness’ laws in the life sciences? Jake, I refuse to give up my belief, or even let it falter for a moment, that you will beat this. I wish we all could take a share in bearing this weight for you. To NED, and prayers for you and all your family.
<3 hugs Denise

You’ve been my inspiration so don’t give up. Following you closely into battle…..

Dammit, keep fighting this bastard.

Still fighting this with you, Jake.

Jake,

I have been reading your blog with incredible interest and respect over the last several months, and I am pulling for you everyday. For some very encouraging inspiration about the potential of Yervoy, take a look at a very young melanoma warrior’s saga: http://cantkickthischick.blogspot.com/ Best wishes to you, and know that you’ve got people around the world pulling for you!

Doug, thank you for posting the link !

Jake,

I don’t know the right words to say. All I can think to say is, turn to God for strength and guidance and have faith in Him. We will continue to pray for you, Linda, the kids, and the rest of your family.

Joshua 1:7 “Be strong and very courageous.”

Big hugs and much love to you all!

Greta, Trent and Grant

Just catching up on your last post and am really sorry to hear of the setback. You’ve all been through so much already, but I know you will keep moving forward with conviction. Sending very positive healing thoughts your way.

Nathalie, George, and Chris

Jake – we still remember fondly the day we spent with you and Linda here in Warwickshire in the UK. Do you remember the visit to Warwick Castle and hearing Bryan Adams warm up for his show that night? And the pub lunch we enjoyed at a traditional pub in a village close to where me and Brian live? We also remember the hospitality you both showed us the following year when we returned to Bonaire – the meal at Cappricio’s was outstanding, and I still recall our dive on Small Wall and the web cam in Hato. It’s happy memories that keep me going – stay strong my friend, we’re thinking of you all. Sue & Brian xxx

Hi Jake, I had just on a whim looked you up online to see what you were up to so this is the first I’ve heard of the cancer. I do wish you a full recovery, you’re obviously a fighter, and I know you want to go back to Bonaire and dive soon so let that drive you. BTW I saw your picture pop up on CNN about a year ago when I clicked on an article on first class in-flight dining and there you were and I’m saying “Hey! I know that guy!” Small world… Be strong and stay happy. — Andy Daniel

I just stumbled across your blog tonight while looking for information about side effects of Interferon because my husband will be starting his treatment soon. Thank you for sharing so much of your experience, especially the stuff people just don’t talk about. My husband’s melanoma seems very similar to yours, starting on his left thigh and progressing to his lymph nodes by the time he was diagnosed. He had his surgery Dec. 5th and treatment was derailed a bit due to infection, but his course of treatment seems very similar to yours, too (although I think he will have the “older” Interferon because I don’t think the newer version is approved in Canada yet.)

I feel less alone after reading through your blog. I find that when people ask me for updates about Jim, I use all these words that get blank stares, and here I’m seeing them in your story. I hate that you and so many others are going through this as well, but at the same time it helps to know that there are other people out there who really do understand.

I’m really sorry to hear that you’re having to go through so much more now. I agree completely that melanoma sucks. I wish you all the best for a full recovery.

Hi, stumbled on this blog by complete accident. Just wanted you to know I’m rooting for you, and wishing you only the best.

Shit. Be strong and know you are in my thoughts.

Leave a Reply