Help Jacob Breathe – Lung Biopsy & Arizona Mayo Clinic Trip

Hi, my name is Steffenie, and I’m the mom of a brave, resilient 21-year-old son named Jacob, who is my whole world.

In November 2024, when Jacob was just 20, he began having sudden and unexplained trouble breathing. We took him to the ER multiple times, but each time we were told everything looked normal. Deep down, Jacob and I knew it wasn’t.

Eventually, a pulmonologist took a deeper look—and what they found was terrifying.

Jacob’s lung function had dropped to just 38%, and he was experiencing severe air trapping and obstruction. He tried prednisone, inhalers, and multiple treatments, but nothing helped. His doctors confirmed: this is not asthma.

He was referred to the Clinical Chief of Pulmonology at OHSU, who agreed something is very wrong. There is concern that it could be a rare lung disease, but as of now, we still don’t have a clear diagnosis.

For the past three years, Jacob has also been battling muscle weakness, unexplained weight loss, and other troubling symptoms that doctors cannot seem to diagnose. As his mom, I’ve watched him suffer in silence, and I know this is so much bigger than just a few symptoms. I need to know what’s going on and if this new lung issue is connected to everything else. I pray that OHSU’s biopsy and the team at the Mayo Clinic will finally give us the answers we’ve been desperately searching for and guide us toward the treatment Jacob so desperately needs.

The next step is a Right Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) and Right Lung Biopsy—a serious, invasive procedure involving three incisions between his ribs to remove tissue samples, including from nodules found in his lungs. The recovery will take six weeks, and the risks are real—but this may be our best hope of finally finding out what’s wrong.

We’ve now been referred to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, and after reviewing Jacob’s records, they’ve officially accepted his case. Their team of specialists may finally be able to provide answers—but we need help to get him there.

Jacob is my whole world, and seeing him go through this with so many unanswered questions has been incredibly hard. I want more than anything to see him healthy again, to give him back the energy and life he once had. But to make that happen, we need your support.

We are asking for help to cover the following expenses:

• Travel costs: Gas, food, and lodging for our trip to Arizona, where Jacob will be seen at the Mayo Clinic.

• Medical bills: Costs not covered by insurance, including those for ongoing diagnostics, the lung biopsy, and any treatments or follow-up care needed.

• Surgery and recovery: The lung biopsy procedure at OHSU, which involves three incisions and a six-week recovery, with potential complications.

As a family, we’re doing everything we can to ensure Jacob gets the answers and treatment he desperately needs. But we can’t do it alone. Your generosity will make it possible for us to take the next step in this journey and get Jacob the care he deserves.

Any contribution—no matter how small—will make a difference. If you’re unable to donate, sharing this campaign with others who may be able to help means just as much to us.

Thank you for being part of our story and for showing us that we don’t have to face this alone.

With all our love and gratitude