Ohio State’s unlikely ambassador a hero on Hilton Head

Heroes sometimes come in small packages.

And, sometimes, in a wheelchair, where the relentless body blows of incurable Duchenne muscular dystrophy could easily dim the spirit of life.

But 16-year-old Jake Jarvis’ spirit helped inspire the mighty Ohio State University Buckeyes when they won the national football championship in January 2015.

This week, he’s being treated as a hero on Hilton Head Island, where his family is enjoying a free vacation from the Hilton Head Heroes nonprofit.

On Tuesday evening, the quiet child who knows his life expectancy reaches only to the mid-20s, charmed Ohio State alumni at Mangiamo’s Hilton Head Pizza Co., the Buckeye headquarters on an island sometimes called Ohio South.

Yes, the whole family — his brother, Noah, who also has Duchenne, mother Tracy and stepfather Chad Studebaker — rode in a van from Columbus to the Hilton Head Heroes home in Sea Pines.

Jake Jarvis showed the local Buckeyes decked out in red the national championship ring he got from Coach Urban Meyer, just as if he were one of the players. It’s so large, he can barely lift it.

Chad Studebaker told the islanders that sports had become a ray of sunshine in Jake’s life. He always wanted to play football but couldn’t. At age 10, he became a rabid Ohio State fan. Then, in July 2013, Jake and Noah were invited to Ohio Stadium to watch a Friday Night Lights camp for football prospects.

It was enough just to be on the actual grass of the Horseshoe, but then something special happened. Coach Meyer motioned for the boys to come over. The coach picked up on a spark in Jake’s eyes. They chatted and Meyer taught Jake to throw a spiral.

And then he invited the boys to a coaches’ meeting, to practices and then to games as the magical 2014 season unfolded.

Game day

Jake was an honorary captain for the Cincinnati game that season. With Noah riding on the back, Jake maneuvered his electric wheelchair to the heart of the Horsehoe with favorite players like Jeff Heuerman alongside for the coin flip.

The team donated $10,000 for Duchenne research. Afterward, in the locker room, Jake was presented the game ball.

Through the season, Jake earned helmet stickers that adorn his wheelchair. His hair was shaved with jersey numbers, like Heuerman’s 86. ESPN did a feature story that was aired prior to the national championship game at the “Jerry World” stadium in Dallas.

On the sidelines, Jake played toss with Tim Tebow and got his picture taken with LeBron James. He got to lift the national championship trophy.

“I just love that kid,” Meyer told Columbus Dispatch writer Bill Rabinowitz. “He’s one of the favorite people I’ve ever met. He has impacted this team. Whenever he comes, the players go right to him.”

Jake’s stepfather marvels at it all. “Words just cannot describe it, and money could never buy it.”

His mother said, “It gives you hope — the generosity of people.”

Anxiety

Jake lost his ability to walk when he was 14. His parents do a lot of lifting. They all work to stay fit, a major challenge to Jake because he can’t exercise.

The Hilton Head Heroes house sees a lot of this. Year-round, it is home for a week to a family with a child battling a life-threatening disease.

Jake’s family has been dolphin watching, and they went to a show of Hilton Head Heroes co-founder Gregg Russell under the Liberty Oak at Harbour Town.

“It lets us forget about Duchenne for a week,” Tracy said.

Jake doesn’t say a lot. But if you lean close, you can hear what it means when those who are able and blessed beyond measure reach out to help others.

The sudden and unexpected role as an ambassador for Ohio State University football has helped him.

“I can finally talk to people,” he said.

And though he can’t play football, he has been able to watch the best do it, up close and personal.

“It takes my mind off myself,” he said.

“I had a lot of anxiety about how I look. I used to be afraid I was going to die in my sleep and never wake up. It’s easy to get stressed out.”

But the burly football players who helped Jake say they are on the receiving end.

Meyer summed it up for his hometown newspaper:

“I talk to my players about the gift of gratitude and compassion.”

This story was originally published July 7, 2016 at 4:44 PM with the headline "Ohio State’s unlikely ambassador a hero on Hilton Head."