Donate to Jake's Journey of Strength and Hope

We are the family that surrounds Jacob Scarborough (Jake), twelve months out from the moment when his life was suddenly changed on a drive home from work.

Driving down a narrow dirt road revealed a vehicle on his side of the road. While he swerved to avoid the other vehicle, Jake's car swerved, rolled over, and hit several trees.

Jake was thrown from the vehicle, breaking his C4 and C5 vertebra in his spine, paralyzing him from his chest down.

This fund is to support Jake and his young son from that devasting moment forward as he journeys to rebuild his strength, his life, and his hope. And we need your help and generosity.

With your support and God's grace, we hope this is a long and positive journey.

How donations will be used:

We have established a benefit trust, The Jake Scarborough Trust, which we are administering on his behalf, for the purpose of paying for health services, assistive technology and devices, modifications in his home, uncovered medical expenses.

100% of the funds will be used for Jake's health journey. In addition, if possible, funds will be set aside for Duncan, Jake's son, for trade school or college.

Jake's Background:

Jake was born in 1996 and "was blessed with loving parents, a twin brother named Joey, and an adorable 4 year old son named Duncan". He loves everything outdoors and lives in beautiful Vermont. At the time of the accident, Jake was 26 years old and working a job in excavation, a job he loved. He was dreaming of starting his own excavation company, "DirtWorks", to support himself, the love of his life, Carlee, and Duncan.

Rehab Progress to Date and Potential Use of Funds:

Jake spent 10 weeks in the hospital and another 6 weeks in rehab.

In the night hours of the accident, heart pounding, rushing, we grasped to understand the severity of what happened. We'd have to wait for unfolding clarity.

Each day, we rode the roller-coaster of hope and despair, thrilled at the smallest of muscle twitches, crushed by the realization of how low our dreams had fallen.

After the early days and months of treatment, the throng of supporters thinned, the reality started to set in, and the routines of small steps and persistent set-backs, the hunting for help in a patchworked health support system, and the quiet anguish that creeped into midnight hours, stole our lightness of being.

Resolution and purpose are humanity's superpowers. We've discovered some of ours.

We remain grateful for family and friends, dedicated care-takers, and the promise of assistive medical technology.

We greet each day with the grit and resolve Vermonters are known for. We have no other choice.

Humbly, however, we welcome help from neighbors known and one's we've yet to meet, and send our heartfelt blessings to you and your loved ones.

Most recent update:

Jake has gotten stronger but has gained very little function. He is working hard to be more independent. Learning new ways to brush his teeth, shave and cook and eat. Jake has had some setbacks with his health that has affected his ability to participate in Physical Therapy. We are waiting to see a physiologist at UVM and hope to get back to PT in February.

Jake really wants a job and is working with Hireability VT to reach that goal. He has registered for a class at the local Community College for Graphic Design and Video editing. He hopes to be able to start the process of driving in the Fall. He also hopes to attend EMPOWER this summer. EMPOWER is a two week "Physical Therapy Camp" that focuses on adaptable sports of every kind.

Together, he and I (Jake's Mom) keep up on all of the new medical advances in stem cell and FES research.