I have organized this on behalf of Jude's mom, Jessica Woolfolk who is at UC Davis Sacramento Hospital with Jude at this moment:
My sweet boy just turned seven. He spent his birthday in the hospital again, which I think is his fourth birthday spent here.
I don’t usually share a lot publicly because I really value his privacy, but out of his many hospitalizations, this is the worst condition he's ever been in.
Jude has had two surgeries this week and is facing another major surgery next week. This next one is expected to be about six hours long. It has the possibility to take or save his life.
Right now his body is really struggling. He’s fighting two viruses, one of which has caused his hemoglobin to drop dangerously low requiring 3 blood transfusions so far, a sinus infection, a fungal lung infection, fluid around his lungs, severe sleep apnea, and a swollen belly, all of which makes it harder for him to breathe, and he doesn’t do well with anesthesia to begin with. I'm hoping his breathing and infections improve enough for him to even be able to get through the surgery safely.
The most pressing issue has to do with his left ear and mastoid. He has had constant ear infections since birth. Even on nonstop antibiotics, the infection has eaten away the bone in his skull (his temporal bone). The infection goes so deep that it puts his brain at risk for meningitis, which he would not survive.
Because the ear has been infected for so long, skin grew and collapsed into places it shouldn’t be, trapping infection inside and basically dissolving bone. At this point, the safest option is extreme: they plan to remove all the infected tissue and damaged structures in that ear, pack the space with fat from his stomach, and close the ear canal permanently. That will mean total, permanent hearing loss on that side. Surgery or not, the infection could reach his brain either way with it being exposed like it is.
The hope is that this surgery will clear out as much infection as possible, protect his brain, and give his bone a chance to heal and regrow. The reality is that this surgery could take him, or it could keep him here.
Even if the surgery goes as hoped, we’re not going home anytime soon. We’ve already been in the hospital for three weeks, and we’re expecting a long stay after this. I also don’t get paid while Jude is in the hospital, so this is draining in every possible way.
Also he's suffering partial facial paralysis as the infection damaged the nerves on the left side.
If you’re able to help through donations or just by sharing this page or keeping him in your prayers or thoughts it would mean the world to us. Your support will help us cover medical bills, living expenses and the long recovery journey ahead. All proceeds in its entirety go directly to Jude. From the bottom of my heart thank you for helping us fight for Jude.❤️
Jessica Woolfolk
Tammy Woolfolk
John Mendiola
