Jackson’s Story: Why Carebridge Collective Exists
Jackson was a healthy, active high school student with a passion for football and a future full of possibility. Like so many young people, his days were filled with school, teammates, and the simple rhythm of being a teenager.
Then everything changed.
During his junior year, Jackson began to feel off. What started as subtle symptoms during spring football in 2025, quickly escalated into something far more serious. After a series of tests, our family received the news no one is ever prepared for:
Jackson had a brain tumor.
In an instant, our world shifted from Friday night lights to hospital rooms, surgical plans, and the overwhelming unknown.
Jackson faced his first surgery with courage on April 23rd, 2025. We held onto hope. But just six days later, we were told he needed a second, more invasive surgery on April 30th, 2025. That’s when our journey took a turn we never could have imagined.
Following surgery, Jackson experienced severe double vision, loss of speech, inability to walk, and paralysis on his left side. As a left-handed athlete, this wasn’t just a setback, it was life-altering. He was hospitalized for 7 weeks between the hospital and in patient therapy. His diagnosis was a Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma or a JPA tumor (a non-cancerous tumor). The tumor was engulfed in his 4th ventricle and cerebellum. It was so large it had been blocking the cerebral fluid to run through his brain And while the medical system saved his life, we quickly realized something else.
No one prepares you for what happens next.
There was no clear roadmap for recovery. No guide for navigating therapies, school reintegration, emotional trauma, insurance, supplemental funding, or long-term care planning. We were left to piece it together on our own, while trying to support Jackson through the fight of his life.
Day after day, he commits to recovery, attending CTN, SciFit, and Eye Therapy, rebuilding strength, coordination, and independence. With an IEP in place, school now comes to our home, allowing him to continue his education despite the challenges. He will be graduating from Hamilton High School in May, proving that resilience can rewrite what’s possible.
Through it all, Jackson has maintained something truly remarkable: A positive attitude. A fighting spirit. A belief that he will keep moving forward.
Turning Pain Into Purpose
Jackson’s journey opened our eyes to a critical gap in care, one that countless families face every day.
Survival is only the
beginning.
Recovery is a completely different journey.
That’s why we created Carebridge Collective.
Carebridge exists to support individuals and families navigating life after hospital stays or inpatient care, whether it’s a brain tumor, traumatic brain injury, stroke, neurological conditions, spinal cord injury, autism, or complex recovery paths. We provide guidance, advocacy, and coordinated care planning so families are no longer left to navigate this overwhelming process alone.
Because healing doesn’t stop when you leave the hospital.
Why Your Support Matters
Families like ours shouldn’t have to figure this out alone.
Your support helps us
Provide patient advocacy
and care navigation
Build personalized recovery
roadmaps
Connect families to trusted
therapy and support resources
Support long-term recovery,
not just survival
Every dollar helps bridge the gap between hospital discharge and a real path forward.
Our overall goal is to be an employment resource post recovery for patients that have suffered life altering trauma and enable them to help others that are currently going through what they went through.
Jackson’s Story Is Still Being Written
Jackson continues to work toward recovery every single day. His journey is far from over, but his strength, resilience, and determination continue to inspire everyone around him.
And through Carebridge Collective, his story is helping create a better path for others.
Because healing doesn’t stop when you leave the hospital Because every patient deserves more than survival, they deserve a plan, a support system, and hope for what’s next.
We’re Here to Help
Have questions or need support? Reach out to our team and we’ll guide you every step of the way. Whether you’re seeking resources or looking to get involved, we’re just a message away.