Arizona teen asks for strangers to pick him up
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A Mesa teenager who is battling a terminal illness will be turning 15 on Aug. 28 and all he wants for his birthday is 100,000 birthday cards.
Five years ago, Jacob Priestley was diagnosed with a rare disease that causes the mitochondria in his cells to die. Mitochondria are often called the body’s powerhouse as they are responsible for creating more than 90 percent of the energy needed by the body to sustain life and perform organ function. Because of this, Priestley has diminished energy and is easily exhausted. There are currently no cures for his disease.
Aside from his condition, Priestley is just like any other boy his age, said his father Tom. He enjoys joking around with his parents and younger brother, playing Minecraft, World of Warcraft and Call of Duty, and listening to music.
Priestley no longer has the energy to attend school but still completes his schoolwork from home. He says history and science are his favorite subjects, but he’s not a fan of English.
So far, he has received about 12,000 birthday cards including cards from Barack Obama, Matt Damon as well as a signed guitar from country music artist Harry Luge. Some of the birthday cards he has received have come from as far away as the Philippines, India and Hong Kong.
