Help Jacob and Family Through Medical Crisis

On April 23rd, my 28-year-old immunocompromised son, Jacob, contracted pertussis (whooping cough) with severe asthmatic complications. Originally believed to be severe bronchitis, he received the wrong treatment for several weeks, including an extended course of incorrect antibiotics, which further impacted his immune system to the point that his nervous system (specifically his vagus nerve) was damaged. As a result, he developed vocal cord dysfunction, leading to sudden episodes of airway closure and laryngospasms that cause cough syncope (uncontrollable coughing until loss of consciousness). Jacob was admitted to the ICU at Advent Hospital in Hendersonville, NC, on Friday, May 16th. He spent seven days in the ICU, where they managed to find a combination of central nervous system depressants that partially control the laryngospasms and vocal cord dysfunction. Unfortunately, this treatment is less effective while he is sleeping, leading to prolonged instances of insomnia. He recently injured an intercostal muscle or potentially cracked a rib during an episode while asleep, causing severe pain and extreme difficulty clearing phlegm and mucus from his lungs, further complicating and prolonging his healing process. As of now, Jacob is home, but this battle is far from over. This will be a long road to recovery, and the healing of his nervous system will be challenging. The medications he is on are only a temporary fix. More permanent treatment options, such as a laryngeal nerve block, botox injections in his vocal cords, and sessions with a speech pathologist, will be pursued when he is healthy enough to do so. We thank all of you who have donated and offered prayers from the bottom of our hearts. Any help moving forward would be greatly appreciated.

 – The Duffy Family