It is hard to believe that three and a half months have passed since the day our lives changed forever. After completing our appointments and evals this week, we are filled with a gratitude we can’t quite put into words. Looking back at the mountains Jake’s climbed, I am struck by one undeniable truth: God is so good. There were moments over the past few months when everything felt too big, too hard, but we were never alone. Every milestone we celebrated this week is a testament of God’s love.

The liver team has removed an antiviral medication from Jake’s regimen! One less med is always a good thing. Endo was very happy with Jake’s blood sugars. He is currently only using a small amount of insulin (8–12 units per day). They are optimistic that once he begins to taper off the steroids (typically around one year post-transplant), he may no longer need insulin at all. Psychology found no concerns in Jake’s cognitive evaluations following his time on ECMO and stroke. They were able to compare these results with the ones he had done at OSF in 2023 after his cardiac arrest and time on ECMO then. They found either the same or slightly improved results.The

Neurology team was so incredibly proud of the progress Jake has made with his arm, his voice, and his overall muscle tone. They were also surprised by his resilience and upbeat attitude. Jake’s CT scan showed that the stroke damage is contained to a small area of his brain with no new concerns. His case will be presented at the Hematology/Neurology conference next week to determine if he can safely come off his blood thinner.

I was so proud of Jake’s courage and stamina. We walked all over that hospital and he never slowed down. When asked to walk, he ran. When asked to bend his knees, he jumped. When asked to show how strong his hand is, he left them in awe. He showed up to every appt and advocated for himself. He has moved from a passive patient to his own active advocate.

Every day, we take a moment to honor Jake’s organ donor and their family. Known of this would be possible without their heroic gift. We are very aware that our joy began in their grief. We lift them in our prayers daily, asking for God’s comfort for them. Because of their “yes,” we have been given the gift of time, and we will never take a single second for granted.

To those of you with us in this journey, thank you. You didn’t just watch from the sidelines. Through your support, your messages, and your tireless prayers, you carried us when we needed it most. As we continue on this road of recovery, we ask you two things:

1. Consider being an organ donor. You have the power to turn a moment of loss into a lifetime of hope for a family just like ours. organdonor.gov
2. Believe in Miracles. We are simply recipients of the miracles God is giving us. Looking at Jake today, walking the halls, advocating for his own health, and recovering in ways that surprise even his doctors is nothing short of a miracle. If you already know Jesus, take a moment to connect with Him. Pray for a heart that sees the miracles in your own life, both big and small. If you don’t know Him, just know that He loves you beyond measure. He is waiting for you with open arms. Our hope is that through Jake’s story, you might see a glimpse of God’s power and His love for you.

Thank you for being part of our story, for believing in miracles, and for standing with us in faith.

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. Psalm 18:16