Today, as the world celebrates the birth of the Savior, our family is reflecting on the incredible people who have carried us to this moment. While our Christmas looks different this year, our hearts have never been more full.

To Our Selfless Donor and their family,

There are no words adequate enough to thank you who, in your own time of unimaginable grief, gave our son the gift of life. Because of your “Yes,” Jacob has a heart that beats with strength and a liver that functions perfectly. We honor your loved one’s legacy with every breath Jake takes. You have given us the ultimate Christmas gift.

To our Medical Teams,

We are standing on the shoulders of giants. To the St Louis teams,thank you for your brilliance and your steady hands. For caring for him each day along this recovery and for taking on the complexities of his anatomy. To his Peoria cardiology team: thank you for the years of dedicated care you have given him that brought him to this time. Thank you for continuing to support him even now while he is in the care of another team. You got us here and taught how to care for our heart warrior. To Jake’s Peoria physical therapy team. You worked with him long before we ever got to this point, strengthening his body and preparing him for the physical battle of recovery. The work you did is what is allowing him to push through today.

To the Community That Raised Him,

A warrior isn’t built overnight. We are so grateful to Jake’s school and church communities, both past and present. You are the ones who raised him, poured into him, and helped shape him. You gave him the confidence to face these hurdles and the deep-seated faith that sustains him when things get tough. He is a product of your love, and his resilience is a testament to the village that stands behind him.

To Our Friends and Family,

Those who have been there for every up and down, during the calm and during the chaos. Thank you. You haven’t just watched from the sidelines. You have stayed with us through every single step, every terrifying turn and every hopeful milestone. You are the ones who make the “hard middle” feel a little bearable and we love you more than words can say.

To Our Entire Village and everyone following along,

Thank you for being our light. We are so humbled by your generosity. Thank you to everyone who refuses to let us walk this road alone. You have shown us that even in hard times, there is an overwhelming amount of goodness in the world.

As we look at Jake today, we can see the horizon. We are holding onto a future that is a little calmer and a whole lot quieter. We look forward to home-cooked meals, sleeping in our own beds, and watching Jake live the life he was meant to live.