One blood donation can help save up to three lives. That means a lot to patients in need, but it took on a new meaning recently.

Without volunteer blood donors, many life stories might have had a different ending. Help me reach my goal and ensure that patients receive the life saving blood they need. Make and keep an appointment to give blood to the American Red ✞.

My son, Jacob Westbury was a well loved and respected by his family, girlfriend, friends, church family community, classmates, teachers and staff both at Blackstone Valley Tech and Sutton Schools, scouting community and citizen. Jacob was involved in a tragic car accident on December 9, 2014 and went to heaven on December 12, 2014. He had expressed to me and his girlfriend that if something were to happen to him that he wanted to be an organ donor. We honored his wishes and Jacob saved the lives of 5 people. It is important to me to continue to honor my son and what better way than to honor him with a few local blood drives? ღ

Jacob knew the importance of saving another person’s life and his first donation of blood was a month shy of his 16th birthday at the high school where he attended; Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School or BVT. He knew when he was eligible to donate again and would recruit his fellow classmates to join him saying its the right thing to do to try and save someone’s life. Jacob was a proud blood donor and was excited to receive his donor card in the mail. I remember him showing it to be with great pride.

If you are not familiar with my son, let me tell you a bit of who he was, his loving characteristics, proud big brother and brother to 13 siblings. Jacob was my oldest of six children and he was the 4th oldest from his dad. He had 8 sisters, a step-sister and 2 brothers. He is deeply missed and loved by not only his family but by all who were blessed to know him. There is not enough words to express how beautiful a person my son was. His dedication and commitment to anything he belonged to were never wavered. He enjoyed going to youth group, boy scouts, playing football and expressing who he was as an individual. Jacob was a very respectful, well mannered young man who would help anyone who needed it. He was planning to attend the Army and college. Please read to know my son a bit more:

Jacob was a quiet, humble, smart, gifted with his hands in carpentry and with drawing and poetry. Jacob was caring, compassionate, respected and embraced by everyone that met him. Jacob was genuine, original, hard working, committed and dedicated and he possessed pure kindness and honesty. Jacob had an incredible sense of humor; always wanting to bring laughter and a smile as a gift of care. He never hid from the truth or looked for an easy way out. Jacob took pride in perfection and put forth considerable effort in everything he worked on. Jacob was a quiet leader, never looking for praise or acknowledgement in helping others. As Jacob matured with age so did his qualities as his great attributes continued to grow. Since a young age, Jacob was loved and respected by his teachers and the staff of the schools he attended. He respected them along with his peers and if you happen to know any of his teachers, they would share the enormous heart and love for life Jacob had. He loved adventure and could be a bit mischievous; in a fun manner. He loved the outdoors, hiking, exploring and staying fit.

He was athletic and very strong. Jacob would get up every morning at 4:00 a.m. to go to the gym with his mentor, friend and trainer, Jesse Preston. They would strength train for an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes and then drive back home from World’s Gym in Worcester to take a quick shower before heading off to school at 6:30 in the morning. He played football with the Millbury-Sutton Raiders from the age of 8 until he aged out and became an assistant coach his freshman year in high school assisting his past coach Wayne Gasco. Jacob also played football his first three years at BVT and was a part of the 2012 Super Bowl Championship team. You could regularly find Jacob off season training in the school’s fitness center, often training friends at their request. Jacob’s senior year he starting training mixed martial arts under the instruction of his uncle Jospeh Westbury. Jacob was a key member of the Team Build SKILLS team and I was told by his shop instructors that it was his scores that helped them advance to regionals and states. During Jacob’s sophomore year in high school, his instructor met with me expressing to me how proud they were of Jacob and he was the backbone of their team as they relied on him to carry them through. He took on the responsibility to learn masonry which was needed in the team build events and later taught the underclassman what he learned, carrying this through to his senior year. Jacob enjoyed learning and working towards perfection for everything he learned and never looked for acknowledgment when helping others.

Jacob was a member of Sutton Cub Scout pack 243 and crossed over to Sutton Boy Scout Troop 131. He soon met some new friends and starting attending campouts with Millbury Troop 110 and later joined this troop. He was an active member of the troop and always willing to help the younger scouts; it was second nature for Jacob as he was an older brother. Jacob was an Eagle Scout candidate as he earned the rank of Life Scout; he only had a few requirements left to earn the highest rank in Boy Scouts; Eagle Scout. He was a member of the National Honor Society of Boy Scouts, Order of the Arrow. After his passing, his troop presented me with the Spirit of the Eagle Award by the National Court of Honor recognizing Jacob’s contribution to scouting. His name was also recently added with honor to troop 110’s Eagle Scout plaque with the inscription of Spirit of the Eagle. A scout can not earn the rank of Eagle after they have passed away but Jacob will always be remembered for the outstanding scout, citizen and person who he was.