February 28, 2025
Hi friends, today we shared a video update titled “little by little” about Jacob working with his new trainer these last several months. (If you haven’t seen it yet, we would invite you to watch that first and read the accompanying post. The video update is basically part 1 and the rest of this post is part 2.)
Towards the end of the video we mentioned Jacob fighting to keep his legs and we wanted to share a little more detail on what we meant by that.
We don’t usually get into this too much publicly because we try to stay positive with our progression updates, but let us try to describe what has been and continues to be a highly concerning issue.
Jacob does have some varying degrees of activation with some muscles in his legs, mostly above the knees. That’s why he can lift his right knee up against gravity and swing his legs out (these were significant and encouraging milestones themselves!).
However, there is still very little motor activity below his knees, resulting in extremely poor circulation. His lower legs and feet turn cold and purple pretty quickly if they aren’t propped up. This is mainly due to the extensive nerve and muscle damage from the lightning. It’s also in part from scar tissue from the emergency surgeries after he was struck. (he had nearly 6 total feet of incisions made in his arms and legs to relieve pressure!)
In day-to-day life this makes us feel like we can’t ever be out too long because we need to get back soon to get his feet up. And over time, complications that can arise from this condition include: dangerous blood clots, bad sores that won’t heal, and extreme, irreversible muscle atrophy. It can get so bad that amputations are sometimes considered. So that’s why Jacob has been in a very real fight to keep his legs for over four years. We don’t ever want it to get to the point where we’re having that conversation.
Now by God’s grace, we have been able to keep his lower legs alive and keep these serious complications at bay by doing 3-4 hours a day of electrical stimulation with the amazing device we found abroad almost 2 years ago, alongside physical and other therapeutic measures. The outpouring of support from so many kind people helped fund all of this and it is no exaggeration to say you’re helping us save our son’s legs! We will never be able to say “thank you” enough or fully express our gratitude!!
Also by God’s grace, we started working with Jacob’s new trainer mid-summer and this issue is the first thing he noticed and really focused in on. We started doing a lot of additional things to help improve circulation and reduce inflammation. After months of hard work we feel like we are finally starting to turn a corner. Circulation has markedly improved with his legs up and while exercising. With his feet down, his lower legs and feet are taking longer to turn purple, and don’t turn quite as deep of a purple as before.
There are more positives and signs of progress too! Jacob does still have generally good sensation below the knees, and, sometimes his trainer catches flickers of muscle activation. Just yesterday we were feeling a nice strong pulse around his ankles and feet. Amazing! Jacob has also started to add a bit of muscle bulk in his calves, which is a big deal and big positive! Signs of life down there!
And as we mentioned with the video post - Jacob has strengthened tremendously in his entire upper body and even some in the upper parts of his legs since he started working with this trainer.
We can’t let up with our efforts!
As you may or may not know, we are at the point where very few of Jacob’s recovery efforts are covered by insurance.
If you’re able to support Jacob with his continued recovery it would be so very much appreciated! Any amount helps!
At this time we are primarily trying to raise funds to continue working with his new trainer. It’s tough, tough work day in and day out but we are seeing amazing results overall and we strongly believe we are on the right path for continued progression.
We are also trying to set some funds aside for additional advanced therapies at some point. This would include things like hyperbaric oxygen, platelet-rich plasma, or ethically-sourced stem cells.
A couple of things some of Jacob’s supporters have appreciated about the HelpHopeLive (HHL) platform - and are outlined in detail on this site - are: HHL will help with documents for claiming a tax deduction if desired. Also, HHL verifies that funds disbursed are towards medical-related/recovery-related expenses and equipment.
Please know we do completely understand if you are not in a position to support financially. Prayers are much appreciated and needed as well. And if you could help share Jacob’s story and campaign here we appreciate it!
If you’d like to know something specific you could pray for at this time here are a couple things:
please pray for his left leg to strengthen enough to where he can lift it up against gravity like he can with his right.
please pray for his nerves and muscles in his legs to start waking up more, especially below the knees - as we’ve gone into here Jacob needs blood circulation to improve and his muscles to start waking up more. We believe once that happens Jacob will be on the way to walking again (although it will still be a long, tough journey to regain the needed leg strength).
And by the way - if you haven’t seen Jacob’s full salutatorian speech - check it out here on YouTube!
Again, thank you so much to everyone who has supported Jacob and the Brewers in so many ways during these difficult and trying times. It has helped us tremendously! We are truly blessed!
- Jeremiah and Barbara Brewer
November 27, 2024
Jacob, now 19, was on the beach with his family during a family vacation. Suddenly, a storm rolled in, and he was struck by lightning, leaving him lifeless on the sand. Despite the odds, he miraculously survived after weeks in the ICU but woke up to the devastating news that he was paralyzed from the waist down. Doctors said he would never walk again, and his legs were deteriorating rapidly. They were dying. Determined to save his legs and regain mobility, Jacob and his family traveled the world for medical treatment and therapies. Finally, they found a breakthrough device in Vienna, Austria, that could save his remaining muscle tissue and give him hope for further recovery. Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks, Jacob devoted more than 30 hours per week to his recovery efforts, including physical exercise, electrical stimulation, and laser therapy. He also started high school six months later than his peers but worked tirelessly through summers and holidays, alongside his therapies, to graduate on time. Despite being denied admission to his desired colleges and missing out on scholarship opportunities due to a lack of extracurricular activities, Jacob persevered and was accepted into LSU of Alexandria's online program. He continues to excel with a perfect GPA while balancing his studies and physical therapies. Over the past four years, Jacob has overcome so many obstacles. His family was told he may not survive or, if he did, he may be in a vegetative state. He struggled to sit up and hold a cup in his hands. He was told he would never use his legs again. He is lifting heavy weights and standing with parallel bars and braces, pushing his body to its limits. Jacob’s progress has been remarkable. While he once questioned why this happened to him, Jacob now believes God has a plan for him and is still determined to walk again. Jacob also hopes that one day, he may be able to help others who are dealing with catastrophic neurological injuries. Jacob’s story inspires others to never give up, no matter their challenges. This Giving Tuesday, we have a special request. We want to help Jacob achieve his dream of driving. We know times are tough for everyone, but even a small contribution of $1-$25 can make a huge difference for us. Jacob recently got his license, but to drive our 2008 handicap van, he needs hand controls and modifications, which cost over $4000 to install. We hope to raise enough funds to make this happen. Help Hope Live is generously waiving all fees this Giving Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024, making it the perfect opportunity to support Jacob and his dream of driving. Thank you again for all the love, support, and prayers!
October 12, 2023
Three years ago, we were in one of the country's best spinal cord injury recovery hospitals. We couldn't believe what we were hearing. Your son will never walk again! Even if the nerves healed, the muscles would be so atrophied that they couldn't recover. So, my husband spent two years contacting people worldwide until he found the Rise in Austria. We traveled across the world, and it worked. Our recent neurologist appointment confirmed it. The doctor said, "You guys did it!" We had found a way to save Jacob's leg muscles, and now we are trying to get the peripheral nerves in his legs to get a signal to the muscles. We are working with a nerve doctor, and after one month of using a laser device, we are confident it can help Jacob's nerves heal. We have seen remarkable progress. Unfortunately, rent costs $ 3,500 monthly or $18,500 to purchase. We are having a yard sale to raise money. Thank you to everyone for all the love and support during this!!!
July 13, 2023
Echos from the Past
On July 14th 2020, my sweet little family boarded a plane to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. One last vacation before school starts, and Jacob starts marching band practice. We were so excited and couldn't wait to get to the beach. We rented a car and drove across Florida to Siesta Key. We grabbed some groceries and headed to our little rental on the beach. The first day was beautiful and relaxing - just what we needed after dealing with lockdowns all spring. Then the following morning, Jacob was extremely tired and said he couldn't fall asleep because he had nightmares that someone was chasing him all night! We told him to sleep a little longer. If I had known what would happen next, I would have told him to stay in bed all day.
Jacob and I joined Jeremiah and Ashley on the beach. It was a beautiful summer day, not a cloud in the sky. We had sandwiches on the beach and soaked up the sun. Then the sky over the water started to darken a little. It was still far away. No lightning. No thunder. People were still on the beach. I told my husband we should go soon and take the kids to get ice cream. A few minutes later, that dark cloud was moving faster. We picked up our stuff and started walking off the beach. Suddenly there was a flash, and I found myself on my hands and knees, ringing in my ears. I looked over, and Jacob was standing, eyes rolled back, foam coming out of his mouth, and his face turning blue. Then he dropped to the ground and I started screaming "JACOB!" My husband looked back, ran over to Jacob, and started shaking him. He was in cardiac arrest and needed CPR NOW! I looked around and said, please help; he needs CPR. Two men ran over and started doing CPR.
After 5 minutes of continuous CPR, the storm broke on top of us. The lightning flashed around us, The rain pouring down, the wind blowing sand in our faces, and trying desperately to revive Jacob. We had to get off the beach. My husband and these men picked up Jacob's lifeless body and carried it for 50 yards to the beach access. Mark Eve, a sheriff's deputy, came running up and said drop him! He started doing CPR again, trying desperately to save our son. Finally, they got a beach cart to us in the storm, risking all their lives to save our son's life. They brought him to the ambulance. Forty-five minutes later, they resuscitated Jacob and transferred him to Tampa Bay General Hospital. After fighting for his life for weeks due to the extreme extent of his injuries, we learned that the lightning also damaged his spine and nerves, leaving his legs paralyzed.
Tomorrow morning I will be traveling 1000 miles to the very beach Jacob was struck on to pass out flyers to share Jacob's story and raise awareness. One of our followers, Paula Hillard, has been sending Jacob cards and has become family and is graciously allowing me to stay with her. Jacob has fought hard, and his fight to walk again is far from over. We could use help as Jacob's newest physical therapy isn't covered by insurance and costs $600-$900 a week; we still need to remodel the bathroom; the price quoted was $12,000-$15,000, and we are hoping to be able to do a new medical breakthrough treatment in Mexico that costs $55,000 for their 28-day protocol, and usually needs to be repeated 2-3 times.
We are extremely thankful to everyone for all the love, support, and prayers. It is truly a miracle Jacob survived, and we thank God every day that he is with us. We couldn't have gotten him this far and saved his legs if it wasn't for you guys. If you bought a shirt, please send me pictures of you wearing them. Let's make Jacob's story go viral. Times are tough for many, if you cannot support financially we completely understand. Prayers for Jacob are greatly appreciated! Sharing his story is much appreciated too! Thank you!
June 23, 2023
The RISE Stimulation machine from Austria works beautifully, and Jacob's legs look much healthier. Jacob did his 1st rolling 5k a couple of weeks ago, and we went camping at an ADA-accessible campground for the first time since the accident. It's been great spending time together as a family again after spending so much time apart. We are so excited as we just discovered a new physical therapy place called React in Addison, Texas. Jacob is loving the new environment and working hard on his recovery. We included Jeremiah's video of how much recovery Jacob has made over a year.
However, just as we felt like we were in a good place after years of trying to save Jacob's legs, finding a therapy center to call home, and Ashley getting ready for her senior year, we got some devastating news.
Jeremiah was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive skin cancer called Pleomorphic Dermal Sarcoma. It can metastasize quickly and move into the lungs and lymph nodes. So we are taking every precaution to make sure this doesn't happen. Jeremiah is having surgery tomorrow to remove the tumor on his head, and they will remove the skin around it. We ask for prayers that the surgery goes well and that this doesn't metastasize. Jeremiah has to see these kids graduate, and he has to see Jacob walk again. It has been extremely difficult with the additional doctors' appointments, ct scans, and the fear of losing Jeremiah. We have weathered worse storms and have faith we will also get through this.
“ The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” Psalm 18:2
April 20, 2023
After the passing of Jacob’s doctor we had to make a huge decision on what to do about Jacob’s physical therapy. So my husband had a vision and brought it to life. Our DIY At Home Rehabilitation Center is finished. We completely rearranged everything in our front room. We hope that with the new medical device from Vienna and doing PT we can get these nerves to wake up again.
February 28, 2023
How far would you go to save your son's legs? Jeremiah and I travelled to Vienna, Austria holding our breath, wondering if it would work. We couldn't believe it when we saw the device on Jacob's legs move muscles that hadn't moved in two years after trying every type of stimulation device in America. Tears rolled down my cheeks. Jeremiah, with tears in his eyes, his face looking relieved that he had found it! After travelling to Chicago, Kentucky, and Florida and talking to John Hopkins in Baltimore, we finally found a way to stop his legs from deteriorating. Thank you, God!! Now we had to figure out how to get it home, which was much more complicated than anticipated.
We contacted several customs brokers to help us get it through. They kept repeating, "yeah, if it's not FDA-approved, you can't bring it into the states." Jeremiah even considered going John Q style and just bringing it in and risking it all. Because when you have fought this long and this hard, and you want to save your son's legs, you'll do anything! Late Friday afternoon, we contacted a fantastic woman named Wendy with ABCO customs; she said, "You know what, I will try." Wendy worked on it all night until midnight Saturday; she got approval to get through customs with the device; however, we were not allowed to use the device until the FDA completed their review. This is why we didn't post last week until we knew what would happen legally. We have been holding our breath for 3 days, just praying they would approve it. Wendy just called and wanted to tell us personally that we can stop holding our breath. She said congratulations, the FDA approved your request. We have the approval to use the device only as a personal device! YES! WE DID IT! We can't thank everyone enough for all the prayers and support. This device is incredible; already, his legs are looking healthier. Now let's pray we can keep getting more recovery of his nerves. This journey isn't over; just another part of the incredible story. Jacob is still fighting to walk again.
February 13, 2023
A year ago, my husband begged anyone and everyone to keep an eye out for a medical stimulation device that could stimulate Jacob's denervated muscles. A year ago, we went from trying to walk again to saving Jacob's legs! My husband did it! After many, many sleepless nights. After months, weeks, and days of pouring over research worldwide, he found it. He located a scientist in Vienna, Austria, who, after 35 years, developed a machine that can stimulate denervated muscles up to 10 years after injury. It is the only device in the world that has been proven to stimulate denervated muscles. Unfortunately, you cannot purchase the device and have it shipped to the US. So we are travelling to Vienna, Austria, to meet this amazing man behind the machine and attempt to activate these muscles. Please pray it works!! We can purchase the machine and bring it back to the states if it does. If we don't do something, Jacob will face amputations. He is such a fighter!! How far would you go to save your child's legs?
