Jacob’s Journey

My name is Amber, and I was very close with Jacob. He was so very precious to me. I wanted to take this time to try and explain as briefly as possible what it is that Jacob and his family has endured over the course of the last few months, and ask that everyone please keep his family in your prayers.

On August 14, 2020 Jake was admitted to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and diagnosed with Covid-19, suffered a heart attack, sepsis, as well as endocarditis. He was transferred to Medical ICU where he was put on a ventilator. Jake’s fever reached 104 degrees. They took Jacob off the ventilator on August 22nd, as things seemed to be getting a bit better. The next day, Jacob’s pulse was lost and CPR was performed for 20 minutes, so he was put back on the ventilator. They tried to get the fluid out of his chest in order to attempt to take the ventilator back out the next day. A cardiac surgeon was also called because Jacobs aortic valve was not working and if the ventilator could not be removed, then surgery would be required. Jacob’s blood pressure remained extremely low throughout all of this. On August 24th, Jake had a stroke.

Jacob regained consciousness on August 26th and was coherent and able to respond physically, although he was still on the vent. At this point, the doctors said that he had made a 180 and seemed like he was going to fully recover and that he would be able to come home in a couple days after some tests were done. They also said that he would require heart surgery in the long run to repair his heart valve. Jacob had a blood transfusion during this time and they were able to stabilize his heart rate and pull his temperature down. The hospital determined that Jake was well enough to return home on October 1, 2020 and he was discharged. His mom, Alice was able bring him home and this made everyone so grateful and extremely happy. He was weak and it seemed like it would be a long recovery, but he was HOME.

It was a short lived victory, as Jacob was rushed by ambulance back to Cape Fear Valley on October 4th. He was very pale, throwing up blood and his organs were beginning to shut down. His blood pressure dropped extremely low, his body went into cardiogenic shock and he developed bleeding on the brain in multiple places. The doctors determined that there was nothing else they could do. Over the course of the next couple days, Jacob suffered several strokes, but regained consciousness on October 12th and was able to yet again, physically respond, although he was undergoing seizures during this time. Jake started to become necrotic in his lower limbs over the next weeks, but was able to communicate and speak with his loved ones, but it did take all the energy that he had. On November 10, 2020 at 11:00pm, Jacob Lee Deare passed away at the age of 28 years old, due to the heart/body complications he endured for the last several months.

Those of you that knew Jake, knew that he was the sweetest soul you would ever want to meet. He did all he could to help those he loved. He left behind his mom, and his 6 year old son, Kaeleb, his dad, and his little brother, who he would tell anyone who would listen, that he loved them more than life itself. His family has been on an emotional roller coaster with his health, and I cannot even begin to fathom the heartache that they are enduring having lost someone so precious.

This time will be an extremely difficult one for his family, not only emotionally, but financially. There will be medical costs, as well as memorial service costs. Jacob’s mother, Alice has been caring for her grandson, Kaeleb, and would do so in any circumstance in a heart beat, but as we all know, life can get expensive and the holidays are right around the corner as well. If you find it in your heart to donate any amount you can, it would be greatly appreciated beyond comprehension. No amount of money in the world will repair the hurt that is taking place right now, but if we can help make it a little easier on Jacob’s family during this time, I pray that’s what our hearts guide us to do.

All funding will go to Jacob’s mother, Alice Deare. Please keep her, his dad, his son, his little brother and all those with broken hearts in your prayers.



“We know that our body—the tent we live in here on earth—will be destroyed. But when that happens, God will have a home for us to live in. It will not be the kind of home people build here. It will be a home in heaven that will continue forever. But now we are tired of this body. We want God to give us our heavenly home.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:1-2‬ ‭