~ Posted by Naomi and Jeff Harm ~

Our grand day to get Jacob airlifted to St Paul, MN from Texas fell through yesterday- May 6th. Once again the huge setback was caused by TriCare United HealthCare insurance, miscommunication between UMC and an affiliation of the US Army.  Jacob has been approved for the facility of choice - Bethesda in St. Paul, MN, but TriCare United HealthCare came back and denied the airplane transport late yesterday afternoon. WTF! Minnesota facility approved - but denial of transport to get him to the approved facility. This "for-profit" health insurance company has found a way to create a "loop-hole" in the system to NOT get Jake back to MN. They would prefer to transport him to an LTAC facility in Texas that provides below standard care and let him sit and rot in a defective long term nursing care facility and not nurture his brain, his speech or body. [...]

Posted by Naomi and Jeff Harm

Jake made it through another femur surgery on Friday. A bolt holding his femur together was already coming apart from his previous surgery, as this was identified on an x-ray. To ensure the femur stays intact, they added an additional steel plate in his leg along with the other parts of the bionic build. Once again heavy medication is not allowing to wake up fully.[...]

Posted by Jeff and Naomi Harm

It has been 25 days since Jake's motorcycle accident and he has spent all 25 days in ICU and is still there. Jake is in stable condition and has still not fully come to- due to all the medicine. He is still pumped up full of pain medication to control the pain from the surgeries of his legs. They have altered his position from totally laying in bed to rotation of sitting in an angled chair. Jake has already been dealing with pneumonia and they have that mostly controlled at this time with antibiotics. When one rests for a long period time in a flat position, phenomena can set it quite quickly.[...]

Thank you friends, family and Naomi and Jeff's edtech community for sending your candle lit well wishes for Jake's golden 19th birthday! Thanks to the Renee and Rick Matt family from Iowa, Jake's godparents, for creating the large customized sign. [...]

~  Written By Naomi Harm ~ 

Jacob is continuing through with several more surgeries for his lower extremities. Each ankle was rebuilt and reconstructed yesterday through another 3 hours of surgery. He now has the casts removed and his ankles are rewrapped in support badges to heal. [...]

~ Written By Naomi and Jeff Harm ~

It was a very trying day for Jacob yesterday on April 21st. Yes, he did receive an MRI, but it took over 4 hours to complete, as he absoulutely has to lay still. With a TBI (traumaic rbain injury) and placing a patient in an MRI tube- this can be painful process- by all the loud noises it makes- which causes the brain heightened pain.  It can set anyone off to not lay still, and it was very uncomfortable for Jacob. Because they were checking mostly on his cervical neck and spine area, they discovered he now has three additonal acute compressed vertebraes in his back, which caused the additional huge discomfort to lie totally flat on his back, causing much pain, anxiety and spiked heart rate again.  So once again the sedatives and pain medications were give to calm and relax him, but it took a great deal of time to calm him his pain down, and bring his heartrate back to a safe level.He willnow have to wear a body brace for the next two months to support his back, vertebraes, and all the broken ribs. The MRI also showcased and dicumented the TBI and the severity of the concussion, which makes it even more important now that Jacob willl need and require quality neuorigical care and rehab to improve his condition.[...]

~ Written By Naomi and Jeff Harm ~

Today is Monday, April 21st and we are starting a new week. Jacob has been in the United Medical Center El Paso, TX hospital ICU since April 5th- 16 days. To us as parents it seems so much longer and the date of his accident seems like an eternity ago. Each day aids to his healing and one day closer that we can bring him home to Minnesota- eventually. [...]

~ Written By Naomi and Jeff Harm ~

Today is the day of Jacob's golden birthday. He has turned 19 on April 19th. Much  has happened over this past 19 years with our youngest son, and we have had the opportunity over the last two weeks to share Jacob's childhood story with our daughter-in-law Heather Gavin Harm. I will not go into all the detail, but the memories we have shared with her have aided in much laughter and spirited conversation of all the trials and tribulations of Jake's childhood, likes to dislikes, most embarrassing moments, trying times and the distinct physical characteristics and mannerisms that he has possesses from his father Jeff Harm and his mother Naomi Harm. These emotional and laughter-filled conversations are the backbone of what is holding us all together as a family during this trying time with Jacob's accident.[...]

~ Written by Jeff and Naomi Harm ~

It is Easter Friday and our Jacob has been taken into surgery this morning to start the rebuild of his legs. Due to the severity of the situation, they are going to take the surgeries in small sections at a time, and first work on one of his femurs to rebuild, pin, bolt, plate and skin graph today. We have no idea how long the surgery will last. It depends on Jake's tolerance to endure the surgery and his ability to maintain strong vitals that are at a safe level. [...]

~ Reflection from Jeff and Naomi Harm ~

It has been a very trying few days this week. They have slowly decreased Jake's sedative medication to allow him to wake up on his own. The process has been very slow, but subtly signs of some movements- this is good. As of yesterday, April 15th Jake slightly opened one eye as Jeff and Heather were talking gentally to Jacob. Heather moved around the hospital bed, and it appeared has if Jacob was following/tracking her with his eye. Today he has had more subtle eye movements and squeezing of our hands as we hold Jacob's hands.[...]