Saving Jacob

Saving Jacob :

Jacob has suffered irreparable damage to his heart, to the point that he now requires a heart transplant to live. Doctors are working round the clock to stabilize Jacob for transplant surgery. Jacob is a 22-year-old strong and determined young man who is in a fight for his life and his recovery.

We have learned that Jacob suffered from “Fulminant Viral Myocarditis”, which is an uncommon syndrome characterized by sudden and severe diffuse cardiac inflammation. The severity of his condition alone will place him at the very top of the heart transplant list.

Asking for help is not something Jacob’s family would ever consider doing on their own but something that they, unfortunately, will need. All funds raised will go directly to paying medical bills, rehabilitation and recovery bills, and related travel expenses.  All funds will remain in the account until medical & related family expenses are needed.

Jacob's Story:

It began just a few short weeks ago when he complained of flu-like symptoms. When his symptoms continued into the next night, Jacob’s mother decided to take him to the neighborhood Urgent Care. But, what happened next left them in complete shock . . .

Upon initial exam at the Urgent Care, the doctor advised that Jacob be taken immediately by ambulance to a nearby hospital. Within minutes of arrival, the doctor became visibly concerned, as a virus aggressively attacking Jacob’s heart was discovered. Jacob was immediately transported to the Methodist Hospital Heart Center in San Antonio, Texas (about 300 miles away).

Since that time, Jacob has been in the CV ICU where he was intubated and put on life support; including ECMO, Impella, ventilator, and dialysis, and placed into a medically-induced coma. Fulminant Viral Myocarditis syndrome often leads to death resulting from cardiogenic shock, ventricular arrhythmias, or multiorgan system failure. Historically, this syndrome is almost exclusively diagnosed at autopsy.