The Impact of a Single Soul
Lindsey Dickson Craycraft was 19 when Jacob was born, I was 23, and Shannon Boston was 17. Our dad was just beginning his cancer journey (lung and brain) if I recall correctly. It was 20 years ago so details of exact timing is blurry at this point but Lindsey was barely out of high school, Shannon might have actually been graduated just a few weeks prior and I was somewhere between college and working. Laura Graham Dickson was working full time and taking care of dad. Our lives up to that pivotal moment were headed in many different directions… but Jacob Craycraft changed everything. Amid the relentless doctor appointments, labs, and scans, Jacob accompanied my mom and dad through all of it. My dad presented Jacob to everyone he met along the way with such pride and joy. It was truly special to witness. Jacob, not only being the first grandchild but being a boy on-top of that, was a beautiful gift to my dad especially. He not only finally had a boy but they also became inseparable buddies. Despite our Dad’s health struggles and the enormous amount of stress all that caused my mom, it was an amazingly joyful time in our lives. Jacob brought us hope, love, joy, and a bond we’d never experienced before. He became the most important human on this earth to all 5 of us. He taught us so much about life and love and family. We had always been a family but the day Jacob was born we became FAMILY!! That strong bond continued through the birth of Justin and Logan, the addition of Jacob, Jared, and Megan, through the loss of our dad, and on through the birth of Cooper and Chase. At some point along the way Lindsey started nursing school while working full time to support her family so mom, Shannon, and I got to help her raise her boys. All 3 of them are a huge part of who we are. They are all as much ours as they are Lindsey’s but Jacob started it all and because of that he was special to us. The world outside of our little unit may never understand the impact Jacob had on us from the very first moment he took a breath and I know the world cannot fathom the total devastation we all feel knowing he took his last before us and without us. Jacob was not a perfect child nor a perfect young man but he was one of the best to ever grace this earth. He was doing everything right by working hard, holding to his responsibilities, being humble and kind, following the Lord, loving his loved ones, and planning for his future. He never refused help to anyone who asked and he had one of the biggest hearts I’ve ever known. I told him once that I’d give him the world if I could... he told me that day that he knew that… but now I’d give the world to have him back.
