Jordan Jacobs' new chapter

***Please scroll down for updates. This is the original posting from a few years ago.*****

Hello and thank you for your time and consideration. I’m humbly reaching out to all of you for financial assistance for my 28-year-old son, Jordan.

On August 18th, Jordan Jacobs underwent surgery on his brainstem to remove a large tumor threatening his ability to function and life expectancy. He awoke from the 8-hour surgery but shortly after developed unforeseen complications requiring him to be sedated and placed on a ventilator. Jordan’s doctors have explained he will have a long recovery with outcomes that are still uncertain. Immediate funds raised would go towards air flight support to bring Jordan home to Kansas and for personal, medical and rehabilitation expenses.

Jordan Jacobs is a graduate of the University of Kansas and works to help foster children find homes in emergency situations. During his short life, he has had ten successful surgeries on a rare lymphatic condition he was born with. It was in 2004 when he was diagnosed with a cavernous malformation (cavmal) in his brain stem and was told that the condition was inoperable. He lived with minor symptoms for about 16 years, including spells of dizziness, migraines and fatigue. In 2020, Jordan experienced a stroke directly diagnosed to complications from the cavmal. Jordan began living in fear of his condition, which MRIs proved had grown and spread further into his brain stem.

The technology that didn't exist in 2004 was now available at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. Through a lengthy interview process, Jordan was accepted as a patient of world-renowned surgeon Dr. James Lawton. Jordan had started a new series of symptoms a few weeks before the surgery, which solidified his decision to go ahead with the procedure. Upon arrival, the Neuro Team (after looking at the pre-op MRI) couldn't believe Jordan was walking, talking, or functioning much at all. The malformation was as big as a silver dollar. They guaranteed Jordan would have deficits upon completion, and again, bravely, Jordan elected to go ahead with the procedure. Dr Lawton removed the entire cavmal with "good margins, " meaning the entire mass of tissue was removed and wouldn't return.

A surgical success, but with significant post-operative hurdles. Jordan has no guarantee of complete recovery, and what can only be speculative, has been told he will be a patient of high need for some time. He is currently on a ventilator, has a tracheostomy, can't move under his own power and continues to wait for his brain to reconnect to his body. He has his sense of humor intact, can communicate through finger movement and yes/no questions, but is entirely dependent on caregivers for every function of life.

We are seeking financial support to assist in the continued care of Jordan. He will require an expensive transfer to return to the Kansas City area, insurance and health maintenance, lost wages from the extended period he will be unable to work and support his family, and recovery of debt already acquired from travel and operative preparation. Any help will be welcome and greatly appreciated.