On September 12th Jay tested positive for COVID-19 and after a week his symptoms worsened. September 21st he was taken to Inland Valley Medical Center feeling short of breath and was immediately admitted. After a week of being in the hospital prone on his stomach, his breathing continued to worsen. Sunday, September 26th he was intubated, placed on a ventilator and in a medically induced coma. His final request to the Doctors prior to being placed on the ventilator was that they pray for him.

On October 1st we received a call from a Doctor at Inland Valley informing us there was a possibility that Jay could be a candidate for ECMO at UCSD Medical Center in La Jolla. At the time we knew nothing about ECMO, all we knew is that it could possibly save his life and was the only chance we had left. As the Doctor heard the excitement in our voices, he let us know there was a long waiting list and a limited amount of ECMO machines available therefore he would need to meet the strict criteria and be approved before he could be transferred. We gathered as a family that night and prayed that God open the right doors for him and get him the treatment he so much needed. Less than 24 hours later, On October 2nd we received a call that the mobile ECMO team was in route to Inland Valled to transfer Jay to UCSD. We were told he was so ill that there was still a chance they would not be able to transfer him. God heard our Prayers and they were able to get him stable enough to transport with a mobile ECMO device to UCSD ICU.

On October 5th we were informed he not only had COVID pneumonia he also had a severe bacterial pneumonia making his condition worse. On October 6th he had a tracheotomy to replace his breathing tube.

On October 14th, Jay Coded as his Oxygen levels hit dangerously low levels dropping at one point to 6%. At this point his health started to further complicate. On October 18th he was placed on a continuous dialysis to help improve his kidney function that was now deteriorating. October 19th we were able to visit for the first time however things weren’t looking very good as there were several complications, kidneys were not responding, liver was not functioning properly and blood levels were also a concern.

October 20th we were told we needed to decide on what would be done if/when his heart stopped. We were repeatedly told he was very, very sick In fact we were told that he was one of the top 10 sickest patients in all of UCSD and that he likely wouldn’t make it through the weekend. Once again, our family rallied together and prayed that God be with him and do what was best for him. We put our faith in God and continued to be by his side as much as we were allowed and by the Grace of God his condition started to take a turn for the better. Fast forward 2 months, 3 hospitals, 12 blood transfusions and many medical treatments later. Jay is now in a rehabilitation facility and on his way to recovery. He has come such a long way and still has a long road of recovery ahead of him.

We’d like Jay to be able to focus solely on his long road to recovery, without being distracted by medical expenses, the cost of hospital stays, recovery and all the stressful financial burden that occurs when rendered with an inability to work and pay bills.

Our family thanks you all for taking the time to read this, for all of the love, support, and prayers sent our way.