Help Jacob Stout Fight Chronic Lyme Disease

Dear Friends, Family, and Compassionate Strangers,

Jacob's journey began with a mystery—years spent seeking answers from one specialist to another, all in vain. His life was consumed by excruciating nerve pain that extended from his arms, legs, to his feet, resulting in unnecessary surgeries, thus robbing him of the activities he once loved. The simple joys of playing sports, hiking, climbing, walking without orthopedic shoes, strumming his guitar, or writing became distant dreams. At Christmas of his sophomore year, Jacob had to make the excruciating decision to take a medical leave of absence from his dream college, Cal Poly SLO, where he is pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering.

After a long and arduous quest for answers, Dr’s discovered the root of Jacob's suffering—chronic Lyme disease (Borreliosis), Bartnella, and possibly Babesiosis. This insidious trio, the result of a tick bite that may have occurred as early as the age of 6, remained undiagnosed for years.

Jacob's daily life is a relentless struggle, filled with the overwhelming responsibility of scheduling medications every hour, detoxing, physical therapy, IV treatments, and adhering to a strict, clean diet. Lyme disease is a formidable foe, especially when left undiagnosed and untreated. The journey from chronic Lyme to recovery is a challenging, solitary road, and there is a vast gap in understanding and resources to combat this disease. Jacob's treatment, however, comes with a significant financial burden—an astonishing $2,000 to $2,500 per week, with no insurance to alleviate this burden.

Not long after Jacob returned home to recover, the Stout’s faced another devastating revelation: their home had mold. The combination of Lyme disease and mold exposure is like adding fuel to the fire of his suffering. The Stout’s have had to gut their home and part with most of their possessions. As a result, the Stouts have moved from one Airbnb to another since July, with Jacob sleeping outside in a tent.

Jacob's determination and resilience are awe-inspiring, and with your support, we can help him continue the path to recovery and aid with their housing problems. Please consider donating Jacob’s GoFundMe. Every contribution, no matter how small, will make a profound difference in Jacob's life. Together, we can help Jacob reclaim his life. Your kindness and generosity are truly appreciated.