Corinne Vien

His father, Derone, remembers the day well.

His father, Derone, remembers the day well.

This I completely agree with. Jake is fun. He's the life of the party. He has a knack for being able to talk to really anyone. And he always has some funny story up his sleeve.

This I completely agree with. Jake is fun. He's the life of the party. He has a knack for being able to talk to really anyone. And he always has some funny story up his sleeve.

The fork in his nut story almost made me faint. But back to it. Jake was a funny kid.

The fork in his nut story almost made me faint. But back to it. Jake was a funny kid.

Jake got the two homes, the two birthday parties and a lot of siblings to celebrate with. His mom's new husband, Eli, became a very big part of his life.

Jake got the two homes, the two birthday parties and a lot of siblings to celebrate with. His mom's new husband, Eli, became a very big part of his life.

I asked Eli if Jake and his step-siblings got along.

I asked Eli if Jake and his step-siblings got along.

Jake's mom, Marjorie, was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Jake's mom, Marjorie, was diagnosed with breast cancer.

More on this uncle.

More on this uncle.

One thing I'll say about Eli, he will tell a story about someone's wild behavior, but still find a way to compliment them and remind you of at least one of their good qualities.

One thing I'll say about Eli, he will tell a story about someone's wild behavior, but still find a way to compliment them and remind you of at least one of their good qualities.

And I imagine that for Jake and for his half-brother Max, this was a really good thing to have in a parental figure, especially as two kids who had their own set of unique challenges and really likely had many people questioning their actions and their worth as they grew up. It was also quite interesting hearing Eli's memory of Marjorie's brother's behavior as an adult who was witness to this.

And I imagine that for Jake and for his half-brother Max, this was a really good thing to have in a parental figure, especially as two kids who had their own set of unique challenges and really likely had many people questioning their actions and their worth as they grew up. It was also quite interesting hearing Eli's memory of Marjorie's brother's behavior as an adult who was witness to this.

Because later when I asked Jake about this time, Jake really just remembers that his uncle had promised to build them a treehouse and then abandoned the project and took off. So the ultimate betrayal for a child. But all of this points back to what Jake craved most. Interaction with family. A solid, consistent home.

Because later when I asked Jake about this time, Jake really just remembers that his uncle had promised to build them a treehouse and then abandoned the project and took off. So the ultimate betrayal for a child. But all of this points back to what Jake craved most. Interaction with family. A solid, consistent home.