Aaron Jacob "Jake" Griggs

Son, brother, grandson and friend, left on his mission March 24, 2013. He was called home by his loving Heavenly Father after a long courageous fight with cancer.
Jake is the son of Aaron and Leisa Fairbanks Griggs of North Logan. Jake was born Jan. 21, 1995, in Logan, and was currently a senior at Sky View High School.
He had a love for learning, especially for calculus and physics as he aspired to become a math teacher. Jake enjoyed English and finding new words, and playing word games were exciting.
Football and basketball were his favorites sports to play. Jake was a huge BYU fan. Jake loved his scriptures and serving in the gospel. He liked finding new quotes, like one by Malcolm S. Forbes, "Victory is sweetest when you have known defeat" but Jake's favorite was by Walt Disney, "Keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." Jake had an open mind and curiosity for learning new things and loved sharing it with others. Jake enjoyed spending time with his family, playing board games, and hanging out with his cousins.
This past year he found joy in helping others have fun by planning parties and supplying the treats. Jake will be remembered for his handsome smile and great sense of humor. Although Jake was tall in stature, his spirit towered over all.
He is survived by his parents, brother Britton, 14, sister Mckenna, 13, grandparents Vaughn and Linda Griggs of Nibley and Douglas and Karen Fairbanks of North Logan, and many aunts, uncles and cousins who love Jake.
Jake we will miss you, but say "keep moving forward." 'Til we meet again we love you.
A special thanks to his Ward Family and the doctors and health care providers at Primary Children's Hospital.
Funeral services will be at noon Thursday, March 28, 2013, at the North Logan 13th Ward chapel, 1850 N. 400 East in North Logan. There will be a viewing prior to the services from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday. Interment will be in the North Logan Memorial Park & Cemetery.
Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.allenmortuaries.net.

A Day of Remembrance

Funeral Services for Jake Griggs will be on

Thursday, March 28th @ Noon 

with a viewing that day from 9:30-11:30am.

It will be held at the 

North Logan Green Canyon Stake Center

1850 North 400 East in North Logan, Utah

A kind tribute to Jake from a friend
read here

Jake IS Standing Tall TODAY!

After a year long battle with cancer Jake Griggs passed away last night from double pneumonia just after being life flighted to Primary Children's Hospital. We pray for comfort, peace, and blessings to be with Griggs family at this time.

Godspeed Jake Griggs. You ARE a remarkable young man!!  
You fought a hard fight and were an example to many.

 

Landon and Jake on Trek at Martin's Cove - August 2011

Jake and friends on Trek

Zac and Jake on Trek at Martin's Cove - August 2011

Jake carrying Alyssa over Sweetwater River

 Sweet Jake in a cowboy hat!

 We've received inquires of how to help the Griggs Family. An account has been set up on behalf of Jake at America First Credit Union under the account name of "Jake Griggs Chartiable Account." Any amount would be appreciated. Thank you!

Funeral arrangements will be posted once we get word from the family. 

 

Jake and the BYU Basketball Team!

Jake was gifted a chance to meet the BYU basketball team for Christmas.  We were able to schedule the day for Jan the 14th.   We arrived at the Marriott Center at 3:30pm.  Our contact Cody, lead us to the bottom floor where we were taken to some chairs just off the sidelines.  The team was so nice. During our stay as the team came off the get drinks or to rest they would come by and shake Jake's hand and introduce themselves to Jake and Kristain and Britton.  I know that Jake felt pretty cool.  They all took a special interest in him.  At the end of practice they took pictures with him and signed his basketball.  Brandon Davies pushed Jake in his wheel chair as Tyler Hawes led them in a tour of the new locker room and game room.  The were so very nice to us all.  I know this we have a lasting impression on Jake for a long time! 

Brandon Davies and Tyler Hawes with Jake

Here is another picture of Jake with Brandon and Tyler with Kristain and Britton

The man on the right leaning on the wall is Cody. He set this all up for Jake.

Brandon pushing Jake in his wheel chair on the tour.  Notice how much he has to bend over to push Jake. He was such a nice guy!!

Tyler signing Jakes Basketball

Here is Jake's basketball signed by the whole team.  They all were so incredibly nice!

We all had such a great time meeting the BYU players.  

      It was a really good experience for Jake.  It lifted his spirits! 

                            Thank you to Jake secret gifter! 
                      You have no idea what you've done!! 
 

...a long stay

Friday, January 4, 2013:  We arrived back to Primary Children's Hosptial on Wednesday to start the 5 day regimen of Ifosfamide and Etoposide.   We started at 9 pm on Wednesday night and if he handles it well we can progress 3 hours the next day.  Jake was sick and throwing up on the first night but by the time early afternoon came he was a little better so the started chemo at 6 pm on Thursday.  He did the same today he starts feeling a little better and they moved the chemo up to 3 pm today. So by Sunday if all goes well they will give the chemo by 9 am.  He will have 10 hours of a recovery medication they give him so there is less damage to the bladder so he won't be done until late on Sunday. We won't be able to come home until early on Monday.   Makes for such a long stay.  This one is harder because Jakes siblings, Britton and Kenna, are home sick.  They both have the flu. Makes me feel awful that I'm not there to help them as well. 

Christmas was good!  We felt kind of normal for minute.  Jake and the Priest Quorum had a party at the Shoemaker's Home. Jake had a great time.   Thanks to the Shoemaker's for letting him have the party at your house!

Praying for a happy and healthy new year!!

First Steps!!

December 6, 2012 Thursday -  Jakes takes his first steps in 5 months!  He received his prosthetic today!   He can only wear it a couple minutes each day as he works to become full weight barring.  It's a long awaited wonderful day!

Ok'd for Prosthetic!!

November 20, 2012 Tuesday - We are back at Primary's. We came down Tuesday the 13th of November and Jake has terrible mouth sores.  They ended up sending us home with a plan to come back early Monday the 19th and hook him up to an IV as to hydrate him so we could start chemo early to have us home for Thanksgiving. We left home at 6:45am on Monday the 19th and arrived at primary's at 8:45 am. They had him hooked up to their IV by 9:30am, but some where between the 13th and the 19th the plan to get us home on Wednesday fell through and everything went out the door. We were here for 7 hours before they started chemo. He is getting doxorubicin which is two 24 hour infusions and Ifosfamide which is a 3 day infusion for 4 hours each day. He is feeling extremely nauseated and has slept pretty much since we started. After the Ifosfamide he has another med they give him which helps the Ifosfamide leave his system quickly as not to cause as much damage to the kidneys. That infusion is given for 10 hours after the last doses each day.  He won't be done until Wednesday night. We both are anxious to come home!

As far as the prosthetic's go, the last visit with Dr. Scott, which was on the 15th of November he clear Jake to be measured for his prosthetic. So his appointment with Hanger Prosthetics is November 29th.  Hopefully he will get his prosthetic soon as he is sick of using the crutches.

We are very excited about this!

Leisa