Support Jarred Spurlock & Family - Post ICU

Jarred Spurlock spent the first 57 days of 2024 in the ICU. He was in an induced coma for 25 days; 100% dependent on a ventilator through intubation for the first 18, and with a tracheal tube accomplishing that job for the next 14 days. While he still has a tracheostomy, and will for some time, he is able to stimulate breathing himself through the trach with assisted oxygen instead of mechanical ventilation. On Valentine's Day, he ate his first food of the year.

What started on New Year's Eve as an allergic reaction that forced an emergency intubation, was quickly complicated over the course of 56 days by life threatening blood clots, acute respiratory distress syndrome aggravated by a multiple collapsed lungs and pneumonia, continuous infections, intestinal issues, and severe bedsores. He was required to have several surgeries over this time. His body fought the treatment every step of the way.

Jarred's wife Amanda has been at his side every possible hour making sure each doctor and nurse took his needs seriously, as he has had so many complications and his body was hypersensitive to movement of any kind. The usual protocol could quite literally have killed him. He was the medical mystery of the ICU, whose doctors struggled daily to figure out how to treat his mounting health issues.

On day 57, following surgical care of his bedsores, he was stable enough to be moved to a rehabilitation facility.

Thankfully, he has gained some strength and is able to talk slightly for short periods of time with a speaking valve, but as of February 29, he still cannot move his legs or even feel below his knees. He has what they are calling Critical Illness Neuropathy, and the degree of recovery is uncertain. This is due to lying in a bed unable to move and also having to be put on paralytic medicine to help his body stop fighting the ventilator. Jarred will receive physical, occupational, and speech therapy until March 21.

The scheduled treatment ends there, regardless of his condition. They are needing to find a long-term skilled nursing facility/ rehab for him to stay until he is able to come home. Hopefully he will no longer need emergent medical care, but they are told he will likely need ongoing therapy for at least another year.

Jarred had recently started a job at a newly established company and hadn't acquired health insurance yet, and for inexplicable reasons he has currently been denied Medicaid assistance. His employer has understandably had to let go of his employment since he will not be able to work for quite some time.

Their two sons, Carter (age 14) and Owen (12), already have special needs of their own and now have not had their father home for 2 full months and their mom away until late evenings. Their family and friends have so kindly been helping with meals and transportation to and from their school when Amanda has to be away.

Their savings now spent, the rent of their family home and monthly bills is now more than Amanda can afford on her own, even without the medical bills. They cannot begin to plan therapy or skilled nursing care for Jarred because they don't know what they will be able to afford. Jarred's needs will be too great to qualify for home care and without therapy, Jarred cannot possibly know when he might be able to walk again.