Jarrod Hahn

Jarrod Hahn is a 41-year-old Veteran of the United States Army, husband to Vanessa Hahn, and father of five sons. This fundraiser is to raise funds for a wheelchair-accessible van and modifications to our home to make it accessible.

On August 27, 2022, Jarrod suffered a brain-stem stroke and lost total use of his body and voice. He was diagnosed with locked-in syndrome and could only move his eyes up and down.

The stroke hit the day after his 11th wedding anniversary and 6 days after his 41st birthday. During the acute phase of his recovery, he received 27/7 care at a long-term acute care hospital in San Diego. He was breathing via a tracheostomy on a ventilator and eating via a feeding tube. He was accepted at a world-class traumatic brain injury rehabilitation program at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado. He would have been there up to 5 months, so it made sense to move out of their rental home where he had lived with his family for over 6 years. His wife, Vanessa Hahn, would have relocated to Colorado during his treatment. However, the insurance company denied his treatment and his family was effectively homeless and separated. After exhausting all available appeals, Vanessa moved into a room for rent near his neurological rehabilitation facility in La Mesa, CA, and his sons went to live with different relatives. His three dogs and cat were fostered by family and friends. All of their possessions were put into storage.

After 6 months in treatment facilities, Jarrod was able to come home on March 17, 2023 – a rental home that did not meet his needs. He had regained some of his voice and started moving parts of his body. He was able to operate a power wheelchair with his right hand. Jarrod is still trapped in many ways because he can only travel for medically-related appointments. He missed out on many holidays and events while in his rehabilitation facilities - and continues to miss functions and family events because wheelchair-accessible transportation for non-medical appointments is costly.

The bathroom doors of the rental home were too narrow to accommodate a shower chair or lift device so he could bathe. Instead of using one-time grants to make modifications to the rental home, his family was able to qualify to buy a home that would be better suited to his ongoing needs. Jarrod and Vanessa closed escrow on their first home on April 28, 2023. The new home in Vista is easier to navigate in, but he still cannot access the bathroom to bathe. He has not been able to take a shower since he left his last facility in March 2023. He would like to be able to modify the hallway and primary bedroom shower so he may bathe with a shower chair comfortably.

The new home has stretched the family’s budget, so adding construction costs and a lease for a wheelchair-accessible van seem out of reach.

Jarrod is more than a Veteran, husband, father, and student. He is also a musician, singer, surfer, mechanic, cook, gamer, artist, blue-belt Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, and all-around talented man. He rebuilt his wife’s engine before his stroke and could whip up food from scratch. The stroke stole his ability to perform most of his passions . . . including using his voice to sing his favorite songs. As an avid surfer and dog beach visitor, Jarrod hasn’t seen nor been near the beach since his stroke. His desire to shower and go on family outings seems so simple in comparison.

We are grateful for any and all assistance.

❤ The Hahns