‘Jacob’s Miracle’

This story describes the most difficult experience we have ever been through.

Autism brings complex but peculiar behaviors. 15 years ago, Jacob started dumping his milk into the fish tank. This started a routine of cleaning out the tank, buying new fish, and trying again to teach him how to feed the fish. We found out later, that it was a sensory issue and he stimulated on watching liquid pouring: into sinks, from cups, and unfortunately one day a gas can.

It was a wonderful place the kids loved to play and wonder around. It was on a hill and one day when I was rotating the tires on our van, Jacob took advantage of my precarious position and righted a wheel and pushed it down the hill. It flew down the hill, through the neighbor’s yard across the street, and into the creek 100 meters below. A van’s wheel and tire are heavy.

On May 17, 2004, we were cleaning the house we rented to move into our new home. At this point, we had moved 17 times cumulatively and were pretty accustomed to thoroughly cleaning our military quarters for turn-in inspections. Robert was at Karate, Sarah was in the kitchen coloring, and Jacob was playing. Jacob went into the garage and dumped a gas can where a gas water heater pilot light ignited the fumes. Patti saw the explosion and ran to get me. When we found Jacob, he was completely engulfed ablaze. I rushed to him and tackled him in the front yard rolling him around in the grass to extinguish the flames. He was air evacuated (another miracle story) to UVA.

Jacob was in a medically induced coma at the PICU at UVA for 90+ days. He had sustained 3rd degree burns on 70% of his body. Miraculously, there was no damage to his face, eyes, inside his throat, ears, or any major organs. In fact, his buttocks was completely fine. The burn team was able to use his butt to make skin grafts. I’ll refrain from sharing more of the details at this point and focus on the incredible grace of God and the communities of the Virginia Military Institute, the City of Lexington, and Rockbridge County.

The PICU team was incredible. We received daily visits from our “new” hometown. Jacob went to Waddell and teachers and staff visited us bringing books, made a themed sensory quilt with Jacob’s new favorite movie characters from Finding Nemo. The VMI Class of 2006 passed the hat for my daily travel from Lexington to Charlottesville. Our Sunday School class of Keydets and Liberty University students were taking care of Sarah, Rob, and me while Patti remained at Jacob’s bedside. And Jo…She was amazing. She cooked, made onion salad (ask Rob and Sarah about that one) and was there every day ensuring sanity in our home. We received cards from every state and four countries including Afghanistan.

During that time Patti’s mother suffered a heart attack and died, and she had to go and take care of her dad. She returned when Jacob entered rehab to relearn to walk. The goal was 150 steps. The team at Kluge rehab center created this wooden contraption to assist his muscles to strengthen. Jacob is not only smart, he is practical. He knew the goal was 150 steps to go home, so he would count, “1 … 2 … 3 … 150!” His determination equaled his mother’s in coming home.

We could not have done this without the Grace of God, the encouragement from my new Brother Rats, the warmth from the people of Lexington and Rockbridge County, and our dearest friends from church.

#30DaysofAutism #JacobsWorld #JacobsParents #AprilAutismAwarenessMonth #Iwouldntchangeanything