This is our friend Jalen. He is a junior nursing student at Rutgers University. He loves pizza and his dog Fritz.

Jalen is truly a friend to all - whether it's to those he meets on the street, a classmate who looks upset, or someone he reaches during service - he is loved by everyone he crosses paths with.

To us as his friends and family, what seemed like a normal case of the flu, spiraled into a series of emergency surgeries, respiratory failure and ultimately led him to be intubated. Jalen is currently not able to walk, talk, see, or breathe on his own.

Jalen was diagnosed with a particularly severe case of Stevens Johnson Syndrome, which requires extensive treatment even after he is released from the hospital, which is still a day to day battle. This diagnosis will affect every aspect of his future.

In Jalens case, it has affected him physically inside and out. The systemic symptoms that Jalen is dealing with right now include loss of skin from his mouth, throat, and lungs. Jalen has undergone multiple skin grafts to care for loss of skin from his torso all the way up to his face. This includes all parts of his chest, back, arms, shoulders, neck and face.

To you it may seem like another unfortunate case - but to us, he represents the best of the future, society, and the type of people we all wish to populate our lives. In addition to wanting to see him back in better health - we want to see his achieve his dreams of becoming a nurse. We kindly ask you to please help us in supporting his recovery!

We are extremely grateful for the support he has received thus far and wish to continue to support him in all the ways that we can. Jalen will appreciate the sea of support awaiting him.

*ALL MONEY DONATED WILL GO TO JALEN DIRECTLY*