Jake with gifts from his PT team at bradley
Pediatric Transplant Week is a time to reflect on the road Jake’s traveled and the incredible people who have walked it with him. While every milestone belongs to Jake, his success was built by an amazing group of medical professionals who treat him, not just as a patient, but as the kid he is.
We have always considered ourselves blessed since Jake was born with an extraordinary cardiac team by our side. They have been a constant in our lives for almost 18 years. They’ve celebrated with us during our best days and sat with us during the absolute worst days of our lives. They haven’t just cared for Jake, they have stood in the trenches with us. They’ve stayed with us during the setbacks and cheered the loudest for every single milestone. To Jake, they aren’t just his home medical team, they’re part of our family.
As Jacob’s journey evolved, his circle of support grew to include many phenomenal people. If we are talking about life-changers, we have to talk about his therapy team.The two years leading up to his transplant were spent tirelessly recovering from his arrests and preparing his body for the big surgery to come. We owe a debt of gratitude to his physical therapy team. His former PT at OSF is truly one of the most amazing people. She gave him back his confidence and motivated him day after day. She connected with him at a time when it wasn’t easy and now, he calls her a friend.
Secondly, he has an outstanding group of people at the Bradley Therapy Clinic. They pushed Jacob to be his best. They continue to support and encourage him even now, keeping his motivation and determination high.
Without these dedicated people, the grueling recovery that followed a dual transplant would have been impossible. They gave him the strength to face the surgery and the resilience to bounce back, even when it didn’t seem possible.
What makes his team truly special is that their care didn’t end when the appointments did. Although Jacob is no longer “technically” their patient, his teams have continued to support him. They have transitioned from clinicians to the ultimate cheerleaders in his journey, checking in and celebrating his progress from the sidelines. That kind of lasting connection is something we never take for granted.
Today, the results speak for themselves. Jake is thriving. He is outdoing where he was before the transplant, reaching new levels of activity and joy every day.During this Pediatric Transplant Week, our hearts are full of gratitude for the hands that heal, the hearts that care, and the teams that ensure Jacob can keep on being the amazing kid he is.