Jake's Journey

Family and Friends -

I am Kris Rossow and On November 24th at about 11pm my brother and sister-in-law, Mike and Mikki (Michelle) Porath, received a call that no parent wants to receive. My 24-year-old nephew, Jake Porath, had been hit by a car, while he was in the middle of a crosswalk crossing the street. They were able to talk with Jake and the doctor who told them he had bleeding on the brain, was going in for emergency surgery, and they needed to get there as quickly as possible.

The problem was that Mike and Mikki live in Wisconsin and Jake, who lives in Los Angeles, California was on vacation with friends in San Francisco. On Thanksgiving Day, Mike and Mikki were frantically trying to find flights to San Francisco. They flew to Chicago so they could fly to San Francisco and arrived at the hospital 15 hours later to find Jake in intensive care, in a medically induced coma, and on a ventilator.

I have started this GoFundMe to help ease the burden for Jake, Mike, and Mikki. As you can imagine Mike and Mikki have dropped everything and are now in California to be there for Jake. In less than 2 weeks the costs of flights, hotels, Ubers, food, and car rental have added up. When you factor in the medical costs and the normal costs of living, for all of them, it becomes overwhelming. Any donation will help Mike and Mikki support Jake during his recovery. If you are not able to donate, your prayers and well wishes are equally as appreciated.

Jake’s Journey:

• Wednesday, November 24th admitted to the hospital for a traumatic brain injury

• Saturday, November 27th they were able to remove the ventilator and wake up Jake. We were so relieved when he knew who everyone was and was able to talk and has memories prior to the accident. He does not remember the accident.

• Sunday, November 28th they moved him out of intensive care and to a regular room where he continued to receive care for his traumatic brain injury.

• Friday, December 3rd he was released from the hospital and Mike and Mikki drove him 8 hours back to Los Angeles where he was admitted to an outpatient clinic for neuro, cognitive and trauma therapy. Even though Jake lives in LA with amazing roommates they are staying at a hotel so Jake can avoid overstimulation and continue his private cognitive therapy.

Currently, he is looking at several weeks of work with a speech therapist, cognitive therapist, and a trauma specialist. The doctors are optimistic that with time, he will be able to make a full recovery. We are looking ahead to when Jake’s brain and scars heal, and he can get back to what he loves to do, working in the special effects industry and creating pretend scars.