Support Jake Robinson's Stroke Recovery

From Seth:

Many of you know Jake Robinson as the founder of Hoxeyville Music Festival and the guitarist and cofounder of the band Airborne or Aquatic with me and Dave Bruzza. Many also know Jake the family man, a dedicated partner and father of three boys. Jake had a stroke recently and sent shockwaves through his community of friends and family. He is stable and recovering like the champion that he is, but it is going to take some dedicated recovery time and a great deal of effort for him to get that guitar back in his hands, and his family could use some support from the community at this time.

Some of us know Jake from the world of guitars and lutherie, as he has been crafting gorgeous instruments and curating beautiful tonewood for 25 years as the founder of Robinson guitars. He has supported many touring musicians like myself with repair work and providing instruments to play, like he did for me when my guitar was stolen years ago. Through Hoxeyville, Jake has connected legends of American roots music with the world class, homegrown talent here in Michigan for two decades. He has helped folks like me connect with some of my musical heroes and scores of music lovers.

Jake and his wife Kristin have for two years now endured and bravely navigated a tough medical journey with their son Abe‘s leukemia diagnosis. If you’ve ever made magical memories at Hoxeyville, had your face melted by Jake during his blistering “Cortez the Killer” solos or perhaps, had your pathway opened up through his efforts, now is a good time to chip in and help Jake and his family keep up the quest.

Sincerely,

Seth Bernard

Here’s a message from Jake’s wife Kristin with more details on the current medical journey.

Jake was diagnosed with an acute ischemic stroke in his brain stem on August 7. His symptoms began as slurred speech and some facial drooping a day or so prior to the inability to move his right arm and leg over the course of 4 days. We learned that strokes do not present with the maximum severity of symptoms from the onset- the clot or whatever caused it took days to finish its wrath.

The most bizarre part of how this occurred was not given much credence by the hospital, but it all started Monday evening with our yellow lab, Frank. A retriever to his core, who is out the door after what you haven’t even thought about throwing yet. In his typical ‘me first’ behavior, Frank clipped Jake in the outside of his right leg, almost knocking him down. His knee was sore Monday, but no visible signs of injury. Tuesday, Jake could barely walk on it. Wednesday, his knee felt better, but he started to complain of feeling vertigo and not quite right, and it was then we decided that we’d go to the doc if he wasn’t himself the following morning. I could barely understand him Thursday morning, and the rest was a fury of tests and worry that ended life as we knew it with a screeching halt. Bless that knuckleheaded dog. The road ahead is all uphill both ways in a snowstorm. The beacon in the distance is and will always be music. Jake definitely knows the way.

The best metaphor for understanding the challenges he faces in regaining dexterity is akin to being at a major intersection when the power is out during rush hour and everyone’s trying to go somewhere and no one knows which way to go. This is the pathway for all your brain’s messages, and while part of his brain is damaged and hopefully healing, other parts need to learn how to execute basic functions.

Jake is working incredibly hard through repetitive tasks to take his arm from being dead weight to grasping a guitar pick again. He describes walking like his brain knows the ground is there, but his right foot could just as soon be stepping into an abyss than making contact with anything. The goal is not to teach his left side to replace what his right could do. These baby steps are crucial, and he’s managed in 1 short week since returning from the hospital to pick up coins, walk unassisted to the bathroom and outdoors, open the fridge, and crack a can of his new beverage of choice- Grape Thirst Mutilator. He’s getting the hang of buttons again and put in his contacts right-handed for the first time. Talking for any length of time is exhausting. Emailing and texting is comical since Siri has no idea what we are ever saying anyway. The work is in the healing right now.

Jake will not be able to drive for a long while. We go to PT and OT in Cadillac a few times per week which is an hour round trip from home. One of Jake’s therapists is a long time friend whose gift at motivating his patients has been a marvel to observe. We’re grateful that we’ve got another week to get a rhythm in scheduling down before school starts. I am so humbled by the support and flexibility from my employers to take the time we need. Our kids go to school in Frankfort, where we’ve been staying during the school year since Covid. At least until the weather turns, we’ll be commuting daily the hour-long trek (which is still less time than they’d all spend getting to school via bus to Cadillac). It isn’t ideal, but it isn’t a choice.

We couldn’t do this alone, and wouldn’t want to do it without you all. I’m so proud of Jake for his determination- thank you for holding him up.

Love,

Kristin