A Long Road to Healing: Help Jesse Blankenship Recover After a Traumatic Brain Injury
On September 9, 2025, our lives changed in an instant.
My husband, Jesse Blankenship, fell from a roof and suffered a traumatic brain injury. What began as an ordinary day quickly turned into a nightmare as Jesse was rushed to the trauma intensive care unit at Erlanger.
By the grace of God, Jesse survived.
We spent a week in the trauma ICU, followed by another week inpatient at Shepherd Hospital in Atlanta. After that came three months in the Shepherd Pathways outpatient rehabilitation program, where Jesse worked incredibly hard to begin the long journey back to himself.
The week of Christmas, we were finally able to come home. It felt like a miracle to have our family back under one roof again.
But recovery from a traumatic brain injury is not quick or simple.
Since coming home, Jesse has continued intensive outpatient therapy including speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, vestibular therapy, vision therapy, and audiology therapy. His days are filled with appointments, exercises, and constant effort to regain abilities that most of us take for granted.
We were hopeful that around the six-month mark we might begin discussing Jesse returning to driving. That milestone would mean so much for our family — it would allow him to get himself to appointments and help get our daughters where they need to go, and it would allow me to finally return to work.
Unfortunately, we are still a long way from that point.
Right now Jesse cannot drive, which means I am responsible for getting him to every therapy and doctor appointment while also supervising and caring for him at home. Because of that, working a traditional job just isn’t possible at the moment.
Even working third shift would mean staying awake all day to take him to appointments, care for him, and get our girls where they need to go. That simply isn’t sustainable.
Our daughters need me too.
Emma is old enough to drive and has been an incredible help during this time, but her Dad has decided to step back from his role as a parent. Right now, Emma’s care and support — financially and otherwise — rests entirely on my shoulders.
Charlotte is only 11, which means she still needs to be driven everywhere. She has choir after school on Mondays, piano on Tuesdays, and theater on Wednesdays. Like any child, she deserves stability, encouragement, and a normal childhood even during a difficult season.
Beyond that, there is our entire household to manage — finances, bills, groceries, cleaning, chores, home maintenance, vehicle upkeep, and all the countless responsibilities that come with keeping a family running.
And if you know our family, you know we also have our little rescue farm at home — 10 beautiful rescue piggies and three rescue dogs who also depend on us every single day.
To say my plate is full is truly the understatement of the century.
I am doing everything I can to keep things together and to support Jesse as he continues fighting to recover. He is working incredibly hard in therapy, and we are holding onto hope and faith that better days are ahead.
But the reality is that I am growing increasingly concerned about our financial situation.
What we need most right now is help covering everyday expenses — groceries, gas, and basic household bills — until Jesse is able to drive again and I can return to work.
Our health insurance through the marketplace also increased significantly this year, so once I am able to work again, even a job that primarily provides benefits would be a huge blessing for our family.
Until then, we just need help getting through this season.
Our goal is to raise $10,000 to help bridge the gap while Jesse continues his recovery.
If you are able to give, no matter the amount, it would mean more to our family than we can express. And if you are not able to donate, we would be incredibly grateful if you would share this with others and keep our family in your prayers.
God has carried us through every step of this journey so far, and we truly believe He is not finished with Jesse’s story yet.
Your kindness, prayers, encouragement, and support have already meant so much to us. Thank you for standing with our family during this incredibly difficult season.
With gratitude and faith,
Carrie Blankenship