Hi, my name is Jackie, and I’m writing this with a heart that feels like it’s breaking.

My husband, Jake Balsiger, is 33 years old and the love of my life. We have been married for 9 years. He is strong, hardworking, and the kind of person who shows up for everyone. Most importantly, he is the best dad to our 8-year-old twin sons. They absolutely adore him. He is the one who plays outside with them, coaches them, makes them laugh, and shows them every day what love and integrity look like.

Jake was born with a congenital heart condition called a bicuspid aortic valve, meaning his aortic valve developed with two leaflets instead of the normal three. He has managed this his entire life.

Recently, after weeks of persistent fevers, doctors diagnosed him with infective endocarditis — a serious, life-threatening infection in his heart. Further testing showed that the infection has significantly damaged his already vulnerable aortic valve and may have also damaged his tricuspid valve.

Because of this, Jake now needs open-heart surgery to replace his aortic valve with a mechanical valve. During surgery, doctors may also need to repair or replace his tricuspid valve depending on what they find. They are currently working to reduce the infection as much as possible before operating, but this situation is serious and time-sensitive.

We do not currently have health insurance. The hospital stay, IV antibiotics, extensive testing, open-heart surgery, ICU care, and the long recovery ahead will result in overwhelming medical costs that we simply cannot cover on our own.

If you are able to give — even a small amount — it would help lift an enormous burden and allow us to focus entirely on Jake’s healing and recovery. If you are unable to donate, we would be so grateful if you would share this page and keep Jake in your prayers.

Our boys need their dad. I need my husband. And we are believing for healing and strength in the days ahead.

Thank you for standing with our family during one of the hardest seasons of our lives.

With gratitude,

Jackie