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Terminally ill boy on cross-country bucket list adventure has died

He leaves behind his parents, his 3-year-old sister, Elsa, and countless family and friends.

COON RAPIDS, Minn. – The Coon Rapids boy who captivated people the Twin Cities and the country when his parents took him on a 2,800 mile "bucket list" adventure, including a trek to see the ocean for the first time, has died.

Jacob Olavson, 7, embarked on the memory making mission after his parents learned he would enter hospice. Last summer, his began to decline from a rare seizure disorder, one that only afflicts a handful of people in the world. With time uncertain, his parents created “Jacob's List”, which included triumphs like climbing the Rocky steps in Philadelphia.

The community rose to help Jacob experience simple joys, like a drive-in movie, a pontoon ride. At the Mall of America, at an outing organized by former Vikings football player Chad Greenway, Jacob rode a carousel for the first time. A photographer also helped orchestrate a sidewalk chalk photo shoot for Jacob and other children facing struggles, where an artist drew chalk scenes that Jacob could “star” in.

“For Jake, what we wanted to do is give him a way to do things he couldn't do in his wheelchair. He can be a scuba diver, an astronaut, a prince fighting a dragon,” said Kari Olavson.

With the list nearly accomplished, Jacob’s parents understood what their son was trying to tell them. He no longer tolerated food, his heart rate soared, he was frequently uncomfortable with pain when harmful seizures continued to damage his brain.

The Olavsons’ began to plan a final act of love - letting him go.

“Everybody was really supportive, the doctors and nurses and everybody said it's the right thing to do. We held a prayer with everyone in the room, it was really special,” said the couple. “To think about how many people came into our life and helped us is overwhelming.”

On April 4th, just before dusk, Jacob took his last breath in his parent's arms, leaving them to hold his memory close.

“One day I went in Jake's room and found a sweater he wore,” said Kari Olavson. “I realized his name tag was still on it and it hadn't been washed, and it just felt warm.”

“It is crazy what you miss of your children and one of them is smell, what they smell like and his sweater smelled so much like him, it was like he was right there,” said Kirk Olavson.

To his family, it’s one sign of many, Jacob is free from suffering, and already on his next adventure.

He leaves behind his parents, his 3-year-old sister, Elsa, and countless family and friends.

A GoFundMe site has been set up for his family.

A memorial celebration is planned in June, at Wabun Picnic area near Minnehaha Falls, Jacob’s favorite park.

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