Operation Bring Jake Home!

Story

In October of 2022, my little brother, Jake, was at drill with his fellow soldiers when he suddenly felt light headed and disoriented. After being sent to the barracks to rest, my brother proceeded to lose mobility in his left leg, collapsing and losing consciousness. Fortunately, he worked in the medical unit of the National Guard where his team was able to spot the signs of a stroke and rushed him to the nearest hospital. After months of uncertainty, what doctors assumed was a stroke was actually blood vessels around a tumor bleeding. What scans showed to be a large mass of blood, was in actuality a tumor. In January of 2023 he underwent a grueling 8 hour craniotomy where the neurosurgeon was able to remove approximately 98% of the tumor. Jake was sent home after recovering from that surgery and just weeks later was then given the diagnosis of a glioblastoma- an aggressive stage 4 brain cancer.

In the last 2 years my brother has undergone 5 brain surgeries, radiation, clinical trials, traditional chemotherapy, and countless hospital visits from complications of these life saving measures.

On Christmas Eve 2024, Jake began to seize. The swelling in his brain was so intense, he seized on and off for many days. Doctors had gone to drastic measures to try and stop the seizing, preparing my family for possible intubation. The doctors were unsure if Jake would make it. Somehow, he pulled through. After a month in the hospital recovering from the seizures, he was transported to a nursing home where he has been receiving around the clock care. Jake has not been able to physically recover from this damage. He cannot walk, and is reliant on the assistance of others for all his needs. He has spent the last five months in a nursing home, and we are working hard to bring him home. Back to his house, a comfortable and peaceful environment, with his beloved dog, Tito. My parents have been working tirelessly to prepare his home for him- installing medical
equipment, wheelchair accessibility, and setting up in-home health care. My mother will be living with Jake to ensure all his daily physical and medical needs are met. As you can imagine, this is a huge transition for my family. We are still
in need of a ramp, a chair lift to get him upstairs, more in-home services, and funds to get him the specialized transportation needed to continue his treatments at the hospital.

Jake’s unrelenting perseverance and desire to beat this is amazing. He fights every day to get to a place where his life feels like his- not owned by his diagnosis. Brain cancer has taken so much from the Leary family- but it has also taught us so much. Each day we are deeply grateful for the love and support you all have shown us. We are continuously humbled by the outpouring of help when we are in need. And we have learned the true meaning of unconditional love. No matter his condition- he is still our Jake and we love him with every ounce of our souls.

Our next hurdle on this journey lies right in front of us- getting Jake home to rest and heal in the comfort of his own home. I sincerely appreciate your consideration to donate to a truly deserving warrior.

Funds will go directly to Jake’s at-home care needs.

Organizers :

Kayla Desmond is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of James Leary.