Jocey's Fight: Stand with the Tackett Family

Jocey is a beautiful, bright, wildly talented 17-year-old who is currently fighting for her life.

On February 11th, after just a few days of feeling slightly under the weather, her health took a drastic, terrifying turn. Over the course of one night, she went from a trip to the emergency room at her local county hospital to being on life support at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Two weeks later, she remains on life support, her condition more stable than in the first days but still critical.

The days are a mix of excruciatingly slow and wild rollercoaster. It seems so very slow because healing comes in the tiniest of baby steps. But it's also not just a matter of passively sitting around and waiting. Each day brings a juggling act of managing symptoms and challenges, taking her back into surgery as things come up that need to be fixed, rounds of tests, "chasing" symptoms with medications, treatments, etc. There is constant activity in her room, including a minimum of two nurses assigned specifically to her who are in the room at all times, and doctors/teams from multiple specialties who rotate in and see her throughout the day.

Jocey is never alone, even beyond the medical staff. Her mom, Renee has been with her since it all happened, leaving only to occasionally run across the street to the Ronald McDonald House to take a shower. (She won't even sleep at the RMH; she sleeps on a small couch in her sweet girl's room.) Jocey's sisters, who are her very best friends, have been able to spend time with her as well. More often than not, someone is standing or sitting next to her bed, holding her hand, talking to her, reading to her. They keep her hair braided, a rotation of fresh, soft blankets from home on her bed, lotion on her hands and feet -- small acts of great love. And Renee isn't only standing by; she has been an active participant in every team meeting, spoken to every member of every team who has seen Jocey, every single day. She has gotten a crash course in medical things she never dreamed she'd have to understand.

The support from family, friends, and their tight-knit little community has been incredible. And we wanted to give another way for folks to support them. The last thing we want is for there to be one more thing to worry about in all of this, so if you're able and feel led to do so, please consider making a donation to help take a piece of the financial worry off of their shoulders.

Healing will not be a matter of days or weeks; they're looking at a journey that will realistically be months and months. Let's wrap them up in love and light and carry them through this.