Jacob
Jacob is a 9-year-old boy with a severe brain injury. He uses a wheelchair and has a feeding tube for food. He lives at home with his sister and parents.
ACP conversations may help his parents prepare for the future.
Jacob’s brain injury effects his ability to swallow, talk, and think. His parents understand the damage is permanent and cannot be fixed. But they are still surprised that his health seems to be getting worse.
Even though Jacob cannot talk, his parents believe that he’s telling them, in his own way, whether or not he is happy. Jacob always loved going to school and being with his friends, but he’s teachers report that he sleeps most of the day, and when he’s awake he’s often uncomfortable and not very engaged. Jacob’s rarely smiles anymore.
It will be important for Jacob’s parents to understand how his health may change over time, and how these changes might impact his quality of life and his health.