February 14, 2015 Many Celebrations Acknowledged

Happy Valentine's Day everyone. It has been one month since posting an update on Jake's progress and we would like to fill you in on the latest updates. Jake has been making the best of it since his last ankle surgery  and has been following the doctor's orders to a "T" and being extremely careful. We are counting down the days to his next appointment where Dr. Rukus and at this next appointment he will take an extensive set of x-rays to see if everything has healed and set, for Jake to start the walking process all over again. This should take place in 10 days- we are getting sooooo excited! He will continue his walking therapy at the Onalaska physical therapy department where he will have extensive PT/OT and pool therapy to aid in balance and hydro comfort to learn to walk again. One never realizes how long but how quickly an 8 week recovery timeframe can pass, but Jake is more than ready and so are we as parents.

On February 4th Jake received notice that he will be officially and honorably "Medically Retired" from the US Army. His medical evaluation is noted as being 100% disabled due to his TBI and his physical impairments of the countless broken bones and his limited walking condition. We are so glad to say that he will be covered for life with health and medical benefits and an US Army retirement fund to support his daily living expences. As parents- the health and medical benefit package was the greatest news we could have heard to ensure Jake will have adequate medical care for the rest of his life. 

More exciting news and closure happened on December 30th as Jake was officially divorced from Heather Gavin. They were officially separated when Jake was airlifted back to St. Paul, MN on May 12th. Heather decided that she did not want to commit to be the devoted wife to take care of Jake. Instead she decided that her self-centered party lifestyle was more important - as she was heavily involved and abusing a variety of prescription and illegal drugs, drinking and driving and a hit and run incident- resulting in receiving several tickets, adultery with six known individuals between February - September, and then to top it off- now working in a strip club since this Fall at the 4 Mile Club in Bluffside, WI.

We as parents are so very thankful that we could already see the writing on the wall way back in April- as the drug addiction problem was very very evident she had, the unfaithfulness as documented by Jake's military friends, written evidence, and individuals that have stepped forward to share their wrongdoings with Heather. Her minimal and lack of quality time to even show up at the hospital in TX to be by Jake's side- was appauling- she just didn't care. Because of all of the glaring signs- Jeff and I applied for full guardianship over Jacob to aid in his well being when we returned to Minnesota in May, so we could make all medical and financial decisions for Jacob here on out. We as parents were granted full guardianship- and please note- this most likely never happens in a case where someone is married- but the judge realized that Heather was totally incompetent to make any kind of ethical and sound medical decisions that were in the best interest for our son Jake. They revoked all guardianship rights from her which included ALL medical and ALL financial decisions and access to Jake's Army funds.  We are so glad that this "bump in the road" has finally smoothed out to allow for Jake to pursue a better life of renewed happiness with his hometown friends and the future Mrs. Jacob Harm someday.

Many of you asked what happened to Heather already way back in May and June, but we personally chose to wait, and to take the high road -and we waited until the divorce was over to share this information. We could go on and on with all the stories relating to the mistreatment accounts of verbal, physical  and emotional assaults to our son and our family- but at this time it no longer matters- because Jake is finally "free of the Bitch", (Jake's exact words), and he is finally safe and is being provided the most positive and nurturing environment to heal his body and strengthen and rebuild his brain.

We appreciate you following and listening to the accounts of Jake's progression and personal setbacks. He appreciates your support and the cards you have been sending him to keep his mood positive and to provide him hope that he will continue to make improvements to find inner peace with his disabilities, and to make a difference with others by sharing his personally story with others.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone- give the one's you love a big hug today and acknowledge the intrinsic gifts they provide to you on a daily basis- to make you personally happy to complete your life.

Jeff, Naomi and Jake