Four-year-old’s wish granted at the Jackson General’s ballpark

JACKSON, Tenn.—It was a special day at the ballpark in Jackson Sunday. One brave little boy’s wish came true.

Jacob Barker is four years old. He loves baseball and Mickey Mouse, but Jacob isn’t your average kid.

“In September of 2014 we noticed a glare in Jacob’s eye and we took him to an eye doctor, which immediately referred us to a specialist, and the next day we were referred to St. Jude,” Jacob’s dad Ronnie Barker said.

Jacob’s dad said Jacob had cancer in his left eye, and the tumor kept coming back after a number of chemo and radiation treatments. This past December his parents had to make one of their toughest decisions.

“We decided at the time it was best to remove his eye and give him a prosthetic,” Barker said.

That hasn’t stopped Jacob or those in his dugout.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation surprised Jacob on the field with his favorite mouse.

“So today he threw out the first pitch and Mickey got to present him with a ball that said, ‘Jacob, your wish has been granted. You’re going to Disney World!’,” Make-A-Wish volunteer Cliff Carter said.

Jacob’s uncle also got to be in on the surprise donning the famous ears for his special nephew.

“It was awesome. I loved it. I love them to death and it was just awesome. I mean I can’t speak. I don’t have many words for it,” Jerry Dale Hilliard said.

Since last December, Jacob has been cancer free.

“Since then we have had no sign of disease. We go back in two weeks for another checkup and we are praying for a good result then, too,” Barker said.

Jacob’s family is hitting the road for Disney at the beginning of May where Jacob will get to meet Mickey Mouse.