Dec 11,th 2025 UPDATES FOR JAKOB

How it's going:

The past 5 months have been a gripping reality. Let's start with good news. Jakob is alive and has an opportunity to win this battle of brain cancer. We have so much gratitude to be in this position. We are so thankful for everyone's thoughts, prayers and support thus far. It is appreciated beyond words.

So here's a summary of what has been our lives since the brain surgery to remove most of the tumor.

My mom and Jakob have been to the hospital in Nashville every week for the past 4 months. Chemo one week 3-5 day cycles and blood work every other week with check ups. Jakob's last five day treatment is next week. Despite all hair loss and lots of nausea and exhaustion, Jakob remains as positive as he can muster. He is a fighter.

Come the beginning of January 2026, while my dad and I remain in Savannah, to work, my mom and Jakob will move to Nashville for 45 days so that Jakob can continue his next phase of treatment, radiation everyday for 45 days.

This will be a challenge for him as well as the family. We are asking for prayers for him in his continued path to recovery. If ya'll want to contribute to his recovery fund to cover expenses for this next phase, I know that Jakob as well as my family would be grateful.

We remain in prayer and always welcome any good thoughts for our family.

How it started:

July 25, 2025

Five weeks ago, my whole family’s life changed when my twin brother Jakob (19 years old) became ill. He had to be life-flighted to Nashville, TN, two and a half hours from our home in Savannah, TN. He had fluid on his brain that was not draining. This caused him to not be able to hear or walk. He received a shunt to help drain the fluid. The next life flight came about a week later when the shunt failed. Then, the third life flight happened when he had 9 seizures in a row because of more complications. Just when we thought he was on his way to recovery, he started regressing and had to be brought back to Nashville hospital again. Apparently, there was a tumor in his brain that had grown so rapidly in this short time that the neurologist told us he would die without surgery and if they did the surgery he had less than a 50% chance of making it. The doctor's exact words were, “It will be a ‘Hail Mary’ if he survives.”

Well, thank you to GOD and all the prayers, he survived. This whole life experience has taught us so much. We are forever grateful for all the prayers and love our family has been given. The road to recovery is going to be long, but we have faith it will be positive. We ask for continued prayers and if you have it in your heart to help more it would be appreciated. Needless to say, my parents have been struggling with not being able to work steadily while being there to meet Jacob’s needs. Driving to Nashville and staying there days on end, food costs, lodging and transportation costs, not to mention the future medical and rehab expenses, it’s been super tight. I know my parents would never ask for help, which is why I am asking on their behalf. I will be posting all updates on Jacob as they come in.

Day 1 Post Brain Tumor Surgery: The doctor was able to remove 97% of the tumor. Jacob came out of surgery able to breathe on his own without assistance. This is huge.

Day 2 Post Brain Tumor Surgery: Jakob was able to watch my mom walk across the room and he could hear us. We asked him to blink once for yes and twice for no. He was not able to speak yet. My dad told him what had happened and that they were all there for him. He reassured him that he would be alright. He told him he was strong and to just continue to fight. He blinked that he understood.

Day 3: Jakob ate food today. He ate oatmeal and drank water. Thank GOD. He is progressing. Late last night he spoke his first words; he said mom and then he said dad.