The family of a man left “locked in” after a catastrophic stroke are hoping he will soon be able to move back home.
Jake White was just 43 when he collapsed in the hallway of his Spalding home in front of his partner and young daughter in September 2013.
The last words Jake uttered as he was rushed to hospital, where he spent a week in an induced coma in intensive care, were “don’t let me die”.
Jake survived the massive brain stem stroke, but it left him with “locked in syndrome”, meaning he can hear, understand and remember everything but is unable to move or communicate except through eye movements.
After weeks in hospital, Jake was moved to a Cambridgeshire care home where he could be looked after 24 hours a day, but it is hoped he may soon be able to return home where he will be surrounded by the love and support of friends and family.
His family are now trying to raise money to ensure Jake has everything he needs to continue on the road to recovery when he gets home.
After a successful fundraising run and raffle last year, which raised more than £4,000, they have now organised a quiz night (see below), which they hope will bring in more cash to support Jake in the future.
His sister Debbie Foster, of Pinchbeck, said: “It’s a long road but Jake has made progress since those early days in the hospital.
“He can move his head quite freely now, which means he can nod and shake his head to communicate a little bit, and if he really concentrates he can wiggle his toes.
“I‘m not sure he will ever walk again but I do think he can make more progress if he continues to work hard and be determined.
“I think being at home will spur him on as he really misses his daughter and being with her more will give him the motivation he needs.”
The family is now waiting for builders’ quotes for alterations to Jake, daughter Tia and partner Karen Murfit’s home to make it suitable for Jake to return home.
A care package will be in place to fund the alterations, which will include hoists to move him around, a downstairs wet room and wider doors for wheelchair access. He will also need round-the-clock care.
Debbie, Karen and Jake’s parents Maureen and Keith had hoped Jake would be able to come home by his 45th birthday this summer, but as building work has not yet started they are now pinning their hopes on being reunited at Christmas.
Debbie said: “We are a really close family and before this happened Jake and I would speak every day, so when he had his stroke out of the blue it was devastating for us all.
“When Karen goes over to see him we are now able to use Facetime (video telephone calls) so we can see each other, which he really likes, but it would mean so much to all of us to have him back home.
“We just want to raise as much money as we can to make sure he has everything he needs, including private intensive physiotherapy.”
