Support the Kitchen Family in Jacob's Recovery
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Thank you for considering the Kitchen's GoFundMe account! Raleigh, Jacob, and their families are truly so touched by the outpouring of heartfelt support and concern. I will do my best to provide updates as deemed appropriate by Raleigh and their families. We thank you for your patience and understanding.
Jacob suffered a bad fall in their home on the evening of May 4 which resulted in severe traumatic brain injuries. He was flown to UF Shands in Jacksonville and is currently in the ICU there.
We are all thankful Jacob has been in stable condition during his stay in the ICU. He has unfortunately encountered a series of complications and setbacks, but he is in great hands and is receiving wonderful care from his medical team.
Following an unforeseen complication on Monday which resulted in emergency surgery, the decision was made to place Jacob in a medically induced coma so that his body could rest and receive the medications he desperately needs. He was also placed on a ventilator and a feeding tube to keep him as stable and comfortable as possible. While this sounds intense and scary (and it is), Raleigh was ultimately at peace with this decision as she noted this was the most relaxed she's seen Jacob since the accident occurred.
Jacob's medical team has routinely lifted his sedation to check his cognitive abilities and muscle movements, and he has done a great job through each of those check points. It is important to note that when awake, Jacob is cognizant, lucid and able to communicate. He can suffer from confusion and disorientation at times (sometimes due to medications, sometimes due to exhaustion, sometimes due to varying levels of sodium, electrolytes, etc.). This is somewhat expected.
Today Jacob was removed from the ventilator and heavy sedation. This is a welcomed change! He was communicating with Raleigh and his family in the hospital today.
So, the million dollar question: What does the future look like for them?
We can anticipate a long road ahead for Jacob's recovery. Physically, Jacob is okay. He will likely require some level of physical therapy to combat muscle atrophy from his extended hospital stay. Cognitively, it will be a longer journey. Again, we are thankful he is receiving great care from his medical teams and we know they are working to set up more detailed recovery plans and timelines.
The next million dollar question: What can we do to help?
Please know how appreciated everyone's outreach has been, truly! I (Marcie) am compiling a master contact list of everyone who has extended offers to help. If you would like to be added to that list, please reach out to me via phone [phone redacted] or email [email redacted]. We WILL be calling on you to help when the time comes and it is so beneficial for us to know specific tasks/areas you are willing to help with.
Thank you again for considering contributing to the Kitchen's GoFundMe! More updates to be provided soon.
Lots of love to you and yours!
Co-organizers (3)
Dodger Lambourn
Organizer
Saint Simons, GA
Raleigh Kitchen
Beneficiary
Marcie Kicklighter
Co-organizer