support Jackson's recovery
Donation protected
Putting this together for our friends Jeff and Cindy Blaufuss.
Medical expenses are piling up quickly and they want to be with Jackson as much as they can, so of course, they also aren't working. The recovery process will be equally challenging and financially draining.
Every little bit helps and their family greatly appreciates any help.
From Jeff-
Yesterday, 4-1-25, I got the call that no parent ever wants to hear. Jackson, my oldest, was stomped on by a bull while participating in a rodeo. He was airlifted to the trauma center and was an inch from death. He has a broken-in-half sternum, 7 broken ribs, 2 collapsed lungs, and a tear in his trachea. He is fighting and is as tough as they come.
I cannot thank the heroes that saved him enough. The kid that sat on him to protect him from the bull, you are a true hero, and I am blown away by your self-sacrifice and honor. The nurses that knew to get a Life Flight, and Matt, the helo pilot, I will be forever grateful to you guys. One day, I hope to meet all of you. Thank you again.
His trachea turned out to be okay. They told us his trachea was torn and in really bad shape, which was life-threatening. When they went in, his trachea looked okay, and they found a tear in his lower right lung lobe bronchiole. They put a plug in it to stop the air leak, and as long as it stays in place and the tear heals, he will be fine. Worst case scenario is they would remove the lower lobe of his lung. He’s in good spirits but has several road bumps ahead we have to navigate.
from Cindy-
Update: April 18th
It’s been rough the last few days as Jackson’s lungs just wouldn’t take oxygen. He struggled to breathe for days with supplemental oxygen. The decision was made 2 days ago to intubate him and have him breathe on a ventilator. I didn’t really help. They took him into surgery to look in his lungs and lung cavity. They found some spots of infection and said his lungs were very bruised.
They decided to put him on ECMO which takes all the work off his lungs and oxygenate his blood outside of his body with a machine.
He is heavily sedated and medically paralyzed so his lungs do nothing but have a chance to heal. His vitals have finally stabilized and he is stable.
They went in this afternoon to look in his lungs again. He has a small air leak in his upper right lung and the plug they put in is still in place. They were able to suck some crap out of his lungs today and hopefully that will help him when they try to get his lungs working again. This is a very small win.
He will be on this machine for a while and in the hospital for weeks. We are praying he starts to recover soon and his lungs start to work and they can try to wake him up. Until then we just have to wait.
Organizer and beneficiary
Jacob Stone
Organizer
Fresno, CA
Jeff Blaufuss
Beneficiary