Jacob Stephens

He’s at home now.


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Jacob first showed signs of illness the day after his 18th birthday.   We thought he just had too much junk food and sodas.   We went to the doctor and proceeded to test him for c-diff and other possible causes for his symptoms.  Jacob didn’t get better.  All the tests kept coming back negative or inconclusive.  December 8 Jacob saw a gastroenterologist who promptly scheduled Jacob for a colonoscopy and an endoscopy the following Monday.  The procedures went smoothly and we had a diagnosis,  ulcerative colitis.  Jacob was given a prescription and went home to get on with his life.  

Jacob did not get better.  His symptoms got worse.  His doctor added Prednisone, still no improvement.  Next the doctor stopped the original medicine for the UC.  Jacob’s symptoms got worse.  December 23, he was admitted into the hospital for the first time.  Christmas was spent in the hospital.  He was discharged on the 26th but returned on New Year’s Day.  This time the c-diff test came back positive.  More IV fluids and medications a second round of Humira injections.  Jacob came home Friday January 5.  He returned to the hospital Sunday January 7.  His doctor tried one more antibiotic to get rid of the c-diff but discontinued that after three days.  Jacob is likely going to have surgery to remove his colon as soon as he strong enough.  



Jacob has lost  more than twenty pounds and has become malnourished over the last few weeks.  He is receiving nutrition and fluids through a PICC line.  



Thanks for all the prayers and support