On the morning of May 7, 2025 what started out as a hopeful day eventually turned into an exhausting nightmare ending in an emergency helicopter ride to Mercy San Juan in Carmichel, Ca the very next morning. Jack showed up to Mercy Mount Shasta at 8:00am on May 7 to have a left rotator cuff tear and left SLAP lesion repaired due to an unfortunate work accident a mere 20 days prior. While the shoulder surgery was a complete success, the recovery was not. Unable to initially wake up in outpatient, it was noted Jacks blood pressure and oxygen levels were alarmingly off. Immediately upon being admitted to the emergency room it was found Jack had a bladder infection which in retrospect would have normally postponed the surgery if found ahead of time. Not satisfied with the initial results, the wonderful emergency room doctors and nursing staff ran further tests, one showing fluid in jacks lungs which was an unfortunate indicator of a far worse problem. After having ordered a CT scan and EKG it was finally determined by the ER staff that jack was suffering from two blood clots one being a significant and alarming size, a Left Pulmonary Embolism caused by Deep Vein Thrombosis which was halting blood flow from his lungs into his heart and beyond. He was lucky to not endure a major stroke or heart attack during and after the shoulder procedure. Odds were not in his favor.

What was first a series of questions and concerns quickly became a chaotic, nerve racking scramble for not only his life but also better more in-depth care. For the next 7 hours the amazing ER doctors and staff at Mercy Mount Shasta reached out to any and all medical transport companies and hospitals for transfer to see a pulmonologist, hematologist and a vascular surgeon. At 5:00am on May 8 after hours of wondering, hoping and praying, Mercy San Juan accepted him and REACH medical services provided the emergency helicopter ride to Carmichel where an incredible staff of doctors met him in ICU and stabilized his oxygen, blood pressure and officially diagnosed Jack with not only two major blood clots in his lungs but further clotting in his legs. Also unfortunately, it was deemed to big a risk given many factors to have the clots surgically removed therefore rendering his care and recovery long term.

Jack, a military veteran of our armed services, is home now and on a slow, uncertain winding road of recovery which unfortunately going to take a very optimistic but unlikely minimum of 6 months, realistically a lot longer.

If you know Jack, you know how much he values health and wellness, enjoys running on our wonderful, local trails and also working his butt off for people in our community. Those are the things he loves the most and unfortunately are both taken away for the foreseeable future. Jack has given back to our community in many ways. Coaching and officiating sports, Going above and beyond for children in his time at Weed Elementary School and supporting the youth at sporting events from recreational to high school long after his kids having moved on. He is a kind, genuine, fantastic human of faith who has given more than most, and in his time of need is asking for any help that can be offered due to the impending financial struggles due to the cost of these services and the time away from working. Whether $1, a prayer or simply a share, anything helps.