My name is Jacob, I've had a long journey, but id be very grateful if you were to read it. I've experinced a lot, and I'd be be appreciative for any help. Im a rather private person so it feels odd to share my full story, or even ask for money, but id like to try.

Im going to use any money donated to finally pay off my medical debt and for a down payment on my first home

(I'm 26 now for reference)

Since I was 18 (2018), I've been doing blue-collar work. I helped build utility trucks in Carson, Ca. I moved to Arizona, then worked as a cellarman at a brewery, and I found my passion in glassblowing. I've been glassblowing for 5 years now.

After passing out a few times from February - April 2022, I had a seizure and rolled into a small ditch while driving my truck. I was finally diagnosed with generalized epilepsy.

'Generalized epilepsy' is used when they cant find the cause of the seizures

For the next 3 months, I had seizures at least once a month, and often more. Sometimes it'd just be 1 and sometimes I had 'clusters' or several seizures, one after another.

This is where things started to get financially hard. I had to call out of work whenever I had a seizure, and half the time I had an EMS bill to go with it. Even with insurance It was a lot of money.

In February of 2023, I'm 23. After 6 months of no seizures, you are legally allowed to drive again, and my neurologist assured me I'd be okay. I was on medication, and I responded well. Things were calming down, and the future looked clear. 'Just take a few pills a day and you'll be fine.'

Just a few weeks later, in March 2023, I had a seizure and got into a terrible car accident. I crashed into a water main at 50 mph.

I was on my way to work at 3:30 AM. Only one person was on the road and saw the accident. I remember briefly being dragged away from a massive ball of fire that had been my car. After that, nothing.

- I shattered 3 ribs and fractured 2. (3 ribs were plated after surgeries.)

- My right lung was pierced by rib fragments and collapsed. Over 6 weeks, it collapsed 7 more times, each needing another surgery.

- My liver was lacerated.

- My right shoulder had been completely dislocated.

- My right kneecap was lacerated and fractured; there's still a piece behind my kneecap.

- 3rd degree burns to my right hand and butt

They had to do liver, knee, and 6 lung surgeries after it kept collapsing in the 6 weeks I was hospitalized. The medical file was 3,000 pages long!

By the time im released, just getting out of the hospital to the car is painful and tiring. I still dont know why anything is happening, and I lost my work insurance after they let me go during my time in the hospital.

I Return to work 2 weeks later. I still had no idea why the seizures were happening or when they would happen again, but I couldn't afford any doctors without insurance, or pay medical bills without money.

No amount of CT, EEG, EKG, or MRI scans could detect what caused my seizures. I had dozens over the years. On Christmas Eve in 2023, I had my last uncontrolled seizure.

My 2nd neurologist ordered a EMU procedure in July, 2024.

They take you off meds, put a EEG on your scalp, and try to stimulate a seizureit took 4 days and I barely slept, but the test worked. I had a cluster of 9 seizures, and my heart stopped for 12 seconds.

Im finally diagnosed with 'Focal epilepsy '

It took over 2 years to stop the seizures and diagnose the cause. Other medical problems havent stopped since then though.

I was doing multiple Neurology tests to ultimately be declined an 'RNS surgery'. They put little receptors on your brain where the seizures start. They cancel out any seizures that may occur as a 'secondary safety' if meds fail. They claimed i don't need it, although I disagree.

After that I went to physical therapy. Unfortunately it wasnt covered by my insurance, so I found a sports doctor instead. I got in a good routine of stretches, working out, and swimming

I ended up seeing a therapist too. I was having these moments where my blood pressure would just drop out the blue, and id start sweating/ shivering/ and stuttering. It got worse and worse so I asked my doctor. He reccomended a therapist. It turns out I was having panic attacks. I got diagnosed with ptsd in the end but im able to handle it

Over a year after my last seizure I started driving again. Ubers were expensive over the years, and i couldn't do many errands. I haven't had any seizures, tickets, or anything since haha.

This year, Im 26. Im working 50 hours a week still. I fixed the truck that I rolled into a ditch years ago.

There was a massive storm last year that blew roofing onto my truck, scratching some areas down to bare metal. It's starting to show discoloration, and I need to repaint before rust forms.

In the same month, my family noticed I was in pain more frequently. I assumed that winter was just worse than normal, but the doctor wanted an X-ray. I took an X-ray and then an MRI. They believe my lung has a thin air sac stuck to it, or my rib is poking my lung, which is worse haha.

On a really sad note, I also discovered I may not be able to have kids. That has been something I dreamed of, but my grandfather was an orphan. I want to adopt if I can't have my own; I still may adopt regardless if I'm able to.

Both problems require specialists. I'm waiting to see both a pulmonologist and urologist for more news in the current day.

I ask for your help so I can complete this. It's been a long and hard 4 years. I continue to work 50-hour weeks and won't slow down no matter what challenges me, and I'll remain humble, no matter how easy anything becomes. If I get any money, I'll be putting it toward the house and don't plan on using a dime elsewhere.

Thank you for reading my story.