On behalf of the Charleston Firefighters Association and with the permission of the McWethy Family, we humbly ask for your help to support one of our own.

On Sunday night (2/23) around 11:30 PM, Jacob came into our room to tell us he thought he had pulled something in his neck and was experiencing pain. We gave him medication and sent him back to bed. About 20 minutes later, he returned, asking to go to the ER because his headache had become extremely severe.

Scott took him to MUSC Black River, where they performed a CT scan and discovered he had a ruptured brain aneurysm. The medical team immediately arranged for him to be flown to the MUSC Neuro ICU for further treatment. Upon arrival, the pressure in his brain began to increase, requiring the placement of a drain in his skull to relieve the pressure.

Later on Monday morning, Jacob underwent a procedure to locate and repair the ruptured aneurysm. The neurosurgeon successfully placed a coil in the aneurysm to stop the bleeding. He spent the night on a ventilator, sedated to allow his brain and body to rest.

By Tuesday morning, the breathing tube was removed, and Jacob was awake, even texting away on his phone. The neurosurgeon explained that the next 3-4 days are critical. As the brain swelling decreases and the healing process begins, there is a risk of the aneurysm rebleeding or the veins spasming, which could result in a stroke.

Jacob will remain in the ICU for 7-10 days and at MUSC for up to 2 weeks. He is incredibly strong and has already survived one brain surgery for Chiari malformation decompression in 2018. He is a fighter, and we know he will face this challenge with the same strength and determination.

We are working to raise funds to help with Jacob's medical expenses through a GoFundMe campaign. Any support, whether through donations or sharing his story, would mean the world to our family as we navigate this difficult time.