Joey gets a joyous homecoming

MINDEN, Nev. " The cul-de-sac off County Road started filling up about 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Joey Jacobsen was on his way home from Oakland children's hospital.

It had been four months since the 10-year-old was critically injured in a tree-cutting accident, and his friends were eager to see him.

Shortly before 5 p.m., a cheer went up. The Jacobsens' truck turned the corner and proceeded slowly through the crowd of kids and adults to the driveway.

"Let Gramma get in there," somebody shouted, making way for Betty Jacobsen. "We need Gramma to see him."

Joey's mother Robbi stepped out of the passenger side and Betty Jacobsen leaned in to see her grandson for the first time in two months.

"I think he looks wonderful," she said.

The crowd of 100 well-wishers quieted down as Tim Jacobsen cradled his son in his arms and placed him in a wheelchair.

Wearing a Douglas Tigers ball cap, Pirates T-shirt and black-and-orange plaid pajama bottoms, Joey gave a little wave as his father wheeled him to the end of the driveway.

"Thanks for believing in me," he said. "So, what's new in this town?"

"You're home!" called out a friend.

His Little League teammates and classmates formed a tight circle around their friend who'd been gone for so long and the talk turned to baseball.

"How's practice?" he asked of his Little League Pirates teammates.

Spencer Trivitt took off his ball cap to reveal a buzz haircut he received courtesy of Joey's cousin Bruce Jacobsen.

"Atta boy," Joey said. "That's going to be happening to me soon."

Spencer said he didn't shave his head until he knew his friend was coming home.

"I did it for Joe," he said. "I don't really like my head shaved, but I know Joey got his head shaved in the hospital and I wanted to do it, too. I wanted him to be surprised."

Joey suffered a head injury Nov. 22 in a wood-cutting accident in Markleeville.

He was taken by CareFlight to Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno where he underwent surgery and spent two months recovering before he was transferred to Children's Hospital and Research Center in Oakland in January.

Adopting the motto "We Believe," friends and family displayed black and yellow ribbons throughout the community to support the Jacobsens.

From fundraisers to the 125,000 visits to Joey's Web site on Caring Bridge, the story of the Minden fifth-grader's determination captured the hearts of Carson Valley and inspired people all over the country.

The Douglas High varsity baseball team showed up to welcome home their batboy, a duty Joey shared last year with his brother Timmy, 14.

Timmy, who spent the last four months living with Denise and Bob Rudnick and their two sons, thanked his surrogate parents.

"I wanted to thank Timmy and Scott (Rudnick) for being my older brothers," he said.

Joey arrived at home just in time for his 11th birthday on Saturday. Family and friends have planned a private celebration for the Minden Elementary School fifth grader.

His new schedule includes home health care for two weeks followed by outpatient rehabilitation three times a week in Reno and Minden and homebound school.

"This has been a long time coming," said Robbi Jacobsen as she embraced friends and watched the gang of kids assembled at the end of her driveway.

Joey's friends and classmates said they were ready to pitch in.

"This is a big step forward for Joey," said Cappy Gilbert, 10. "I just want to tell him I hope his life will not be as complicated as it has been for these past months. I'm here to help him with his therapy."

Thomas Reed, 11, had nothing but praise for his friend.

"I want to congratulate him for succeeding and getting past his injury," he said.

"We're his posse," said 10-year-old Dylan Galliett.

SEND A MESSAGE TO JOEY

www.caringbridge.org/visit/joeyjacobsen

YOU CAN HELP

An account has been set up at the Bank of America in Minden, No. 5010-0730-0228, Joey's Donation.