Jay Cook's Long Term Recovery

Jay Cook who is beloved as a friend, teacher, musician, father, grandfather, brother and husband had a stroke and emergency brain surgery on Sunday March 12th. Because there was swelling in his brain, a piece of his skull had to be removed which will be put back in about 3 months.

The immediate prognosis was as scary as it could be. Jay didn’t wake up after the surgery for 48 hours and we were told that it was likely he wouldn’t survive. But he is proving himself to be a medical miracle in that he woke up on the following Wednesday morning, recognized all of his family, asked the big existential questions like “am I dying “ and later was able to recall and sing his original music.

The road ahead will be long. Jay will need to relearn…everything. After he is discharged from Dartmouth he will be transferred to a hospital based rehab facility and then will need to continue with Speech/Language, Occupational and Physical Therapies for the foreseeable future.

He will also need to be extremely careful to avoid a head injury until the second surgery can take place. Jay will need to wear a helmet whenever he’s mobile and need support when Julie goes back to work. His vision was also impacted by the stroke and it’s not clear how much of it will return.

The family does not have long term care insurance and Jay isn’t eligible for Medicare for another few years. This go fund me is to ask for your help in making sure that Jay gets the best possible care he needs to recover and come back to his very meaningful life.

Thank you all for your understanding and support. We are so very grateful for all the prayers and love that came our way and know it made all difference.

Julie, Matthew, Zoe, Matteo, and family