Jacob has shown incredible strength and resilience through a long and challenging journey. Over the past few months, he’s faced multiple hurdles, including a liver biopsy and procedures to place stents in his bile ducts to help improve liver function. His body went through a tough period of fluid buildup around vital organs like his heart and lungs, but thanks to dedicated medical care, those issues are now under control.

He experienced some heart arrhythmias, which are now being managed with medication, and his pancreas had difficulty producing insulin, leading to high potassium levels. Fortunately, with close monitoring and treatment, his levels are now stable. He also faced low magnesium and elevated liver enzymes, but those are being carefully addressed by his care team.

Jacob dealt with bile duct infections that required surgery, and he also underwent a lung biopsy during a pneumonia scare. Thankfully, doctors were able to rule out rejection, which was a big relief.

After months in a hospital bed, Jacob made a big leap forward by transferring to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab for physical and occupational therapy. Although he had to return to the hospital a few times for complications, he’s made amazing progress—he’s now walking! A little slow for now, but it’s a huge step forward and a testament to his determination.

His journey isn’t over yet—he still has regular doctor visits, therapy, lab work, and the occasional curveball—but he’s facing it all with courage. Every day, he’s getting a little stronger.

Jacob is currently taking 53 pills a day along with insulin shots, and he and his dad are living nearby to be close to his care team. They expect to stay in Chicago for another 8 or 9 months before returning home to South Carolina.

As of today, Jacob is still at Northwestern Memorial Hospital—but he continues to move forward one day at a time, with hope, strength, and a great medical team by his side.