Doctors removed jake olsons left eye at ten months old. The disease claimed his left eye before the tender age of one and in november 2009 jake lost his right eye after battling the cancer for 12 years. Jake has shared his book and faith with countless others, including both adults and children that have been touched by his story. Blind usc football player on helping lead his team. As they talked, mckay learned of jakes remarkable past and was amazed at the wisdom jake possessed as a 12yearold boy. When jake olson lost his sight at the age of 12, he started focusing on what he could do.
Visit the retinoblastoma website to learn more about the disease that so radically altered jakes life. For jake olson, blindness is a conquerable obstacle daily. When jake olson heard his coach, clay helton, calling his name late in. Jake wrote a book when he was 8 years old to uplift and encourage other children who were battling cancer and other diseases. Doctors removed jake olson s left eye at ten months old. In his book, open your eyes, jakes writes, blind people can do anything a sighted person can. Since then, jakes story has reached a national platform with the help of media outlets like espn. Jake olson the 2019 exchange good days effective compassion. Jake olson a young man loses his sight, but finds his way.
Buy open your eyes by jake olson from waterstones today. When he was twelve, after years of radiation and chemotherapy, the cancer took his. Sixteenyearold jake olson is mastering school, sports and just about everything else he tries. He has been blind since age 12, having lost both his eyes to retinal cancer. His website, helps other blind students to function in a sighted world. Sep 05, 2017 how jake olson of usc became the most famous long snapper in college football. I have also written a book, open your eyes, started my own charity, out of sight faith, and serve as a member of the presidents council on sports fitness and. When espn met jake olson, he was a twelveyearold boy who wanted to spend his final weeks of sight with the usc football team. In open your eyes, jake olson tells more than his story. As a child, cancer survivor jake olson lost his eyes to a rare. Jakes love for and dedication to the game of golf caught the attention of travis mathew golf clothing company. Jake olson, the long snapper for the orange lutheran high football team, in his huntington beach neighborhood recently. Now, at 16, he has hopes to be the first blind golfer in the pga. Jake is 16 years old, a resident of huntington beach, california and a 11th grade student.
Sep 22, 2017 jake olson, 20, the teams long snapper, made his debut as a trojan in a game against western michigan university. How jake olson of usc became the most famous long snapper in. It is time to learn from this remarkable young man and open your eyes to a happier life. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. He reveals the ways of thinking, living, and praying that have kept him and his family. Jake olson has overcome the loss of his eyes to cancer. When jake was 8 months old, he was diagnosed with a rare form of eye cancer, retinoblastoma. Sep 18, 2017 olson, as much of the collegefootballwatching world now knows, is different from other football players, uniquely different. Jan 03, 2014 when jake olson lost his sight at the age of 12, he started focusing on what he could do. Open your eyes doctors removed jake olsons left eye at ten months old. He reveals the ways of thinking, living, and praying that have kept him and his family triumphant in the face of their tribulations. Jakes story is one of tears, struggles, pain, and loss but most of all jakes story documents his victory over cancer through his out of sight faith in god.
He reveals the ways of thinking, living, and praying that have kept him and his family triumphant in the face of their seismic tribulations. Resources by jake olson for the olive tree bible app olive. There are a bunch of principles in there that can apply to any circumstance, olson said on the book, which he cowrote with leadership coach mckay christensen. Yet jakes loss of sight has only increased his drive and passion for life. Jake olson, blind golfer, at swing for sight tournament. He also enjoys golf, skiing, surfing, and playing the guitar. Yet jake s loss of sight has only increased his drive and passion for life. Aug 15, 2019 two years ago tuesday, jake olson became the first blind athlete ever to play in a ncaa division 1 football game. How would it feel to lose your sight after being able to see. Open your eyes jake olson this book tells the story of twelve year old, jake olson and more. Now graduated and no longer playing, heres what life looks like after football.
What qualities did jake show in facing his ensuing blindness with such a positive attitude. Jake olson is a very inspirational young man who has kept a positive outlook on life regardless of the fact that he has lost both his eyes to cancer. This book is a mustread that will inspire you and lift your life like no other. Open your eyes doctors removed jake olson s left eye at ten months old. Jan 03, 2014 sixteenyearold jake olson is mastering school, sports and just about everything else he tries.
He has written two books, the first when he was just eight years old and the second in 20, titled open your eyes. Jake is also a lifelong university of southern california football fan. Because of this rare eye cancer, jake olson lost his eyes. Olson, as much of the collegefootballwatching world now knows, is different from other football players, uniquely different. Jake olson, blind football player on rising up to an amazing.
Blind usc trojan, jake olson, snaps his way into history usc. Jake s story is one of tears, struggles, pain, and loss but most of all jake s story documents his victory over cancer through his out of sight faith in god. How jake olson of usc became the most famous long snapper in college football. Open your eyes share book recommendations with your. Open your eyes share book recommendations with your friends. Jake olson, 20, the teams long snapper, made his debut as a trojan in a game against western michigan university.
Now sixteen, jake olson dreams of becoming the first blind golfer in the pga. As mckay got to know jakes sister, emma, and jakes parents, he knew the world needed to hear jakes story and how faith can open your eyes to. Jake has also just published his second book, open your eyes, which was released january 2014. I recommend open your eyes to readers who could use a new door to walk through or a different path to follow. How does that level of perseverance endure in someone with so many reasons to give up. How uscs jake olson is trying to help cure the cancer that took his. From the usc locker room to the fairways of pebble beach, jake olson will inspire you, your family, and your team with bravery, ability, and faith. Blind teen golfer follows his pga dream when jake olson lost his sight at the age of 12, he started focusing on what he could do. Usc graduate jake olson quietly stole the show at the swing for sight golf tournament.
The beginning of the book is jakes story which is heartbreaking and made me as a mother cry. Jake has set a personal goal to become the first blind golfer to join the pga golf tour. This is an uplifting story of his courage and strength, how he handled the bad news, the hurdles he faced and what it took to keep him moving on. Apr 20, 2015 olson went on to write a book, open your eyes to a happier life, and even got to play on his high school football team at lutheran high school of orange county. We welcome you to share your comments, insights, and questions on our page. With his father brian and his guide dog quebec, jake, one group, one hole, one swing at a time, inspired.
As a young man jake olson has overcome the loss of both his eyes to cancer. Jake has also just published his second book, open your eyes, which was released january. He had his left eye removed when he was 10 months old. Olson went on to write a book, open your eyes to a happier life, and even got to play on his high school football team at lutheran high school of. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. With his father brian and his guide dog quebec, jake, one. Olson is blind, yet he plays football, golf and is a motivational speaker. Explores the life of a young man who plays competitive golf and high school football despite losing both eyes to cancer. Ive shared my story with everyone from corporations to sports team to schools and churches. Open your eyes by jake olson overdrive rakuten overdrive. Hes written a couple of books, has a foundation, and just continues to inspire a lot of people. Jake s story is a stepbystep lesson in perseverance and motivation from a young man who knows how to put the past in the past.
He has a wholesomeness to his heart and spirit for life beyond his years. Told with sincerity and humor in tandem with leadership coach mckay christensen, open your eyes is not just a heartwarming chronicle of the olson familys struggle. I have also written a book, open your eyes, started my own charity, out of sight faith, and serve as a member of the presidents council on sports fitness and nutrition. Two years ago tuesday, jake olson became the first blind athlete ever to play in a ncaa division 1 football game. Jakes story is a stepbystep lesson in perseverance and motivation from a young man who knows how to put the past in the past. Lifelong usc fan and former trojans long snapper jake olson has been inspiring people for years. A few years after the book was written, jake has enrolled at usc as a freshman and, with an ncaa waiver, is part of the schools football team.
Jake has also just published his second book, open your eyes, which was released in january 2014. Jake was born a twin with a rare cancer, he lost his left eye at 10 months old and then his right eye at 12 years old. Blind football player shares lessons for happiness orange. Olson is also the author of a book about his experience, open your eyes to a. When he was twelve, after years of radiation and chemotherapy, the cancer took his right eye as well.