03/03/2026 A Small Miracle

03/03/3036

Yesterday morning was rough for Jacob. He woke up feeling pretty bad — lethargic, quiet, not smiling, and barely engaging with us at all. By evening he finally told me he felt sick and wanted Tylenol.

I checked his vitals:

• Temp: 100.4

• Pulse: way up

• Blood pressure: elevated

We gave him Tylenol, and again before bed. It helped some… but before tucking him in, we held his hands and prayed. And this prayer was different. We didn’t pray our usual nightly routine — we prayed directly over the exact situation in front of us. We gave it all to the Lord and asked specifically for His peace, His mercy, and His healing.

Fast forward to 11 AM today. Jacob woke up and said he felt great and was excited for PT. His vitals?

• Temp: 98.8

• Pulse: low

• Blood pressure: 99/74

Tell me… do you believe in miracles?

I absolutely do.

God is greater than any problem we face.

02/16/2026 Massage by Pam

 02/16/2026

Pam continues to come to the house and work with Jacob, and he absolutely lights up when she walks through the door. Her visits have become something he genuinely looks forward to. We are surrounded by such incredible support, and it means more than we can ever express.

Pam shared something today that really encouraged us—she can feel Jacob’s muscles getting more firm, a sign that strength is returning to his extremities. Hearing that from someone who knows his body so well is a blessing. Moments like these remind us that progress is happening, even in the small, steady ways.

02/11/2026 A Great First Visit with Our New ENT

02/11/2026

Today we had our very first appointment with our new ENT at Valley Health, Dr. Thomas Jung. He was the Emergency Room doctor who treated Jacob back in early December when he had bleeding in his tracheostomy. Walking into today’s appointment, we already knew he was sharp and compassionate, but this visit confirmed it even more.

Before I go on, I want to be clear: we were never unhappy with our previous ENT, Dr. Lyndsay Stull. She took excellent care of Jacob during those first few visits two years ago, and we’re grateful for everything she did. Over time, though, Jacob simply didn’t need ongoing ENT follow‑ups, and as his care has become more centered around the Huntington network of hospitals, it made sense to have someone closer and more readily available if something urgent ever came up.

Today’s appointment with Dr. Jung was fantastic. He took his time, listened carefully, and then used a scope to examine Jacob’s airway. After looking everything over, he smiled and told us Jacob looks great. Hearing those words never gets old.

And then came the part that really hit us: our next appointment isn’t for another year. A whole year. That’s not just scheduling—that’s a statement about how well Jacob is doing. Another reminder of how far he’s come and how faithfully God continues to carry him.

Praise God for His constant Grace and Mercy. We see it in every breath, every appointment, every bit of progress. And today was another beautiful reminder.

02/10/2026 “Erin & Leigh Vierstra” Pioneer Award from Project ALS

 02/10/2026 

Today was an emotional and unforgettable day.

Jacob was honored with the “Erin & Leigh Vierstra” Pioneer Award from Project ALS, part of the Alex & Jaci Hermstad Trailblazer Series.

This prestigious award recognizes individuals who show extraordinary courage, participate in clinical trials, and help advance research for the ALS community. Past honorees include Anna Kämpfer (2024) and this year, Jacob Harper (2026)—remarkable people whose dedication reflects the same spirit we see in our Jacob every day.

The full ceremony can be viewed at the link below.

https://youtu.be/f1fddDiRe0w?si=gDsTCShMAnLuBUlz

02/05/2026 SPICY SOUP & More

 02/05/2026

Jacob has been asking for all kinds of things down his feeding tube lately—Tabasco, Barb’s spicy homemade soups, you name it. Tonight she made him another batch of her famous pizza soup, but he turned it down.

He just typed out:

“That hot stuff is making my butt burn.”

Life with Jacob… never a dull moment.

02/05/2026 Occupational Therapy with Emily

02/05/2026

We have the most AMAZING support system for Jacob.

Massage by Pam, Ben at Teays Physical Therapy and our sweet friend Emily Kearns They show up as often as possible and work with Jacob! Emily does Occupational Therapy with our little buddy, regardless of the many irons she has in the fire!

We LOVE our peeps!!!!

02/01/2026 Tracheostomy Change

02/01/2026

Another successful Trach change, thanks to these AMAZING guys and prayer (of course)! Thank you Mark and Jeremy! We love these guys!