Chelsea, MI. – It’s a cool, cloudy spring day and it’s Chelsea’s first track meet of the season. Jacob Nelson stands at the starting line wearing his Bulldog uniform and his ever-present referee hat. He’s nervous as he eyes the competition for his heat in the 100-meter dash then starts out intensely at the sound of the starter’s pistol. He flies down the track as fast as he can with the goal of winning and achieving a new PR (personal record). His coach and friend Dave Jolly encourages him from the sidelines. The packed crowd all cheer for him, many standing on their feet, shouting and cheering as the young man crosses the finish line. He gets his time and smiles as he is told it’s 50.82 seconds. And he’s quick to point out it’s a new pr, 12 seconds better than his old pr.
While that time might not seem good to many people it’s outstanding to Jacob and all that know him. Because Jacob is in a wheelchair. When he runs, he uses crutches, or his sticks as he calls them.
Jacob was born with Spina Bifida called Myelomeningocele, which is a birth defect that causes spine and nerve problems, and Jacob is paralyzed from the waist down. He has movement of his legs but not his feet at all and very little feeling below the knee.
At the age of 5 months, Jacob was placed in foster care with his now parents Dan and Marijane Nelson, who have fostered many kids giving them a good chance in life that they might not have got otherwise. Jacob has one biological brother that he keeps in contact with and 7 siblings, 4 brothers and 3 sisters. He is especially close to his sister Kaye because they both share the same birthday.
Jacob loves sports and you can often see him at Chelsea football and lacrosse games where he stands out because he wears his official referee’s uniform. You can see him at lacrosse games where he will be hanging out on the sidelines throwing his flag whenever there is a penalty. And Jacob actually is better at calling penalties than many referees on the field because he notices everything and he doesn’t forget a thing. He even was on the sidelines at Ford Field in Detroit last year as his Bulldogs played in the state championship football game. And of course, he threw many flags.
Jacob’s parents keep him very active as he plays many sports and tries new things to help him. He has done erging (rowing) through an adaptive program and he is doing an outstanding job at it. He recently started bocce ball where he will be performing for the Special Olympics at the end of May, he plays on a wheelchair basketball team, called the rollverines through umaise, and his mother just learned of an adaptive tennis clinic that Hope college puts on for free.
“Jacob is an inspiration to me and others and he is a very big influence to me personally,” his classmate and friend Elijah Ratliff stated. “I’ve known him most of my life but yet I have no idea what it’d be like to be in his situation. He doesn’t get to experience the privileges that a lot of us just take for granted. However, unlike a lot of us, Jacob faces these challenges with a smile. I always enjoy seeing him every day at school, it brightens my day “
When Jacob runs on that track many people are amazed to see what he is doing and accomplishing, especially those not from the Chelsea community. Coaches, parents, and kids all give him strong words of congratulations and encouragement and he is the talk of social media after meets as people will share his pictures and his results and others around the country will comment on how proud they are of him and to keep up the great work.
“I know God has great plans for Jacob,” his mother Marijane states. “If it is to inspire others than that is the best!”
big smile at the finish line 
crossing the finish line 
Jacob with his mom & Dad Ford Field 
Jacob and Coach Jolly 
Jacob at Ford Field 
Jacob at Ford Field 
Jacob at Ford Field 
shotput 
post race in the rain 
Coach Jolly encourages Jacob 
Running the 100 in the rain