Rally for Jake Kasel's Critical Recovery

On Sunday, December 22, Jake and his family were hosting a potluck skating party at their backyard rink. While skating, Jake fell and sustained a severe head injury. A few hours after Jake hit his head, he was no longer able to form words and experienced a full-body seizure. He was then transported via ambulance to Regions Hospital. He is currently in critical condition and is being treated in the SICU for a brain injury and had multiple brain bleeds. At this time, the brain bleeding has stopped, but his brain tissue is continuing to swell. He is on a ventilator, and his brain pressure is being constantly monitored by a probe that has been placed inside his brain. If his brain pressure gets much worse, they will need to do a craniotomy to relieve excess pressure from the swelling. We are praying that does not happen. Please keep Jake in your thoughts and prayers. His wife Sarah and family appreciate all of your support during this extremely difficult time.

Newest update on 12/31:

Jake ended up getting the craniectomy surgery and it went well. He has developed clots and needs a filter so it does not travel to his lungs. There have been issues with trying to perform this procedure due to Jake's ICP (inter cranial pressure) going too high. He has now developed pneumonia and is on antibiotics. While trying to get Jake into for the filter for his clots, his ICP went up to 95 (the goal is to stay under 20). They needed to be put him back on the pentobarbital and paralytic (medically induced coma).

He is currently resting well, but a very long road ahead