Jackson was excited to attend Heritage Christian for the first time as a junior.  He knew the challenges ahead of him as a new student and athlete at a new school.   Jackson has been an athlete since he could walk, with a true gift of speed.   He had planned to be a triple sport athlete at Heritage with hopes to play college sports one day. He joined the football team and started working hard every day toward being the best athlete he could be.  On July 14, Heritage played in a non-tackle scrimmage against Rensselaer Central High School.  He was playing strong on defense with so much potential for the season.  During his first offensive play Jackson ran for a long pass, made a great catch and turned to run it in for a touchdown when he was aggressively tackled from behind, suddenly changing his life.  Jackson was instantly in the worst pain of his life and was taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital. Our hearts broke as we watched our son experience pain that most of us will never have to experience.  He held us both tightly as he screamed in pain, wept and prayed for it to stop.  We braced ourselves for a season ending injury and were prepared to take him to an orthopedic surgeon the next day.  Thankfully the Lord blessed us with a very good ER doctor who knew something more was going on based on Jackson’s pain level.  He ordered an emergency CT scan and it was discovered that Jackson’s popliteal artery had been severed during the injury.  As we reflect on that moment, we see the grace of God even in the pain and suffering.  We prayed and begged the Lord to stop the pain, but He knew better and did not answer that prayer but increased Jackson’s pain so that the doctor would know that something else was going on.  God is so good!  Jackson was taken immediately by ambulance to Methodist hospital where he would receive life-saving emergency surgery to bypass his artery by taking a long vein from his healthy leg and attaching it to reconnect the artery in his injured leg.  He was in surgery for 6 hours.  The Lord saved his life and his leg.  As we have looked into it this is an extremely rare and incredibly serious injury.

We spent the next 5 days in the Vascular ICU at Methodist Hospital and Jackson would undergo 4 additional fasciotomy surgeries to treat compartment syndrome caused by lack of blood supply to the calf muscles in order to save his leg and all the muscle.  Jackson was bedridden and in great amounts of pain as he faced surgery almost daily and the harsh side effects of strong anesthetics and medications, yet he kept his eyes on the Lord and encouraged those around him.  The importance of scripture memorization and hiding the Lord’s truth in his heart became so real as he would cling to scripture before each surgery.  He would say Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.  Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  Psalm 23 was also very dear to him as he would be taken away from us and alone in the surgery prep area, specifically verse 4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”  It was so hard to leave his side but knowing the Lord was holding him was such great comfort because we could see that Jackson’s faith was strong and the Holy Spirit was with him.   He spent a total of 9 days in the hospital and was finally able to return home but still had more surgery ahead.  Jackson’s leg had sustained significant damage beyond the severed artery.  He had a torn meniscus, destroyed PCL, damaged posterolateral corner (PLC) which caused the knee to have no stability side to side and had to be repaired, and partially torn ACL.  On top of all of this, he sustained significant nerve damage causing drop foot where he cannot lift his foot back up toward himself and the inability to feel most of his left foot and shin.

Jackson bravely started a new high school on August 7^th in a wheelchair with his leg extended straight out in front of him.  He knew making the transition from homeschool to a 5 day a week school would be a huge adjustment but never imagined he would be doing it in a wheelchair with a catastrophic injury.  Perseverance and character are truly being built in this sweet 16 year old boy.  We continuously quote Romans 5:3-5 “..we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Amen!!  He has handled it so well, made friends, and has been a true example of perseverance and faith to his peers and teammates.  He had amazing support from students, teachers, staff and coaches but keeping up with all his schoolwork while navigating a new school with extreme health needs would be a huge undertaking.

A 6^th surgery took place on August 31^st to address and repair the meniscus, PCL, PLC, ACL and to explore the condition of the nerves.  The surgery was long, extensive and the recovery very painful.  Jackson’s perseverance through the pain was incredible and his strength through another procedure was truly remarkable.  It felt like a huge setback, but he knew without it there was no going forward.   He has physical therapy two times a week and is working very hard through the pain to strengthen his leg.  Future surgery is unknown currently. His ACL was not repaired in hopes it would heal on its own, but that is still a question.  The biggest challenge we now face is nerve damage causing Jackson to have drop foot.   He will have an initial appointment with a neurologist soon, and an EMG scheduled to determine the extent of nerve damage.  We are dedicated to doing everything we can in order to get Jackson back on his feet, which may include out of state travel to a highly specialized nerve treatment center.

Jackson has displayed deep faith in the Lord during this devastating injury.  We have watched him persevere through weeks of pain, discomfort and dependence on all his needs with kindness and an incredible attitude.  He has been able to share the love and promises of Jesus with family, friends, doctors, nurses, teachers and peers.  He doesn’t know what the future holds but he trusts that the Lord will carry him and guide him.  Our deepest desire for Jackson is that he clings to the Lord all the days of his life, but we would love for him to be able to walk and run again.  We pray daily for complete healing so that Jackson can be the athlete he has always wanted to be and worked so hard for.  A family verse that we memorized together last year gives us strength, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12.