Aid Jake's Recovery and Family's Well-being

I am creating this fundraiser on behalf of my brother Jake. Jake is a loving husband to his wife Mikaela and an amazing father to their three children Tanner (7), Owen (7), and Emma (8 months). Life quickly took a turn last week for Jake and his family when his health took an unexpected turn for the worst.

Over the weekend of July 5th, Jake started experiencing intense body aches, and when they didn’t go away by Monday, Jake had decided to go to the ER. He was sent home as at the time they were thought to be just that, a few aches. On Tuesday, Jake could no longer urinate on his own, he went back into the ER and was sent home with a catheter and referral to urology.

Jake then woke up Wednesday morning with paralysis in his legs, arms, chest, and waist. Jake’s wife Mikaela quickly called an ambulance and headed to Strong. From Wednesday to Friday, Jake grew weaker each day as his health continued to decline. Throughout those days, Jake had every test done from MRI and CT scans to lumbar punctures as his team searched for an answer.

Jake was then started on plex treatments, where they pull all of the blood out through a catheter in the neck, take out all of the bad plasma and replace it with healthy plasma. Jake was recently given a diagnosis of Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody Disease. Which in short, is an autoimmune disease that attacks the nervous system.

Jake is on the road to recovery however he still remains at Strong to this day with an unknown discharge date. After being discharged he will still require months of recovery with at home rehab, which means he will not be able to work for months still to come. Jake’s wife Mikaela has taken on the responsibility of assisting Jake full time during his recovery at home, and therefore will be out of work as well.

Jake and Mikaela are humbly asking for support from their family, friends, and community during this time of uncertainty and need. Any and all love and support is appreciated as our family maneuvers this impossible situation. Please do not feel obligated to donate, however if you could share this post and link that would be greatly appreciated!