The Casey Cares Foundation partnered with the Baltimore Orioles to bring a special evening to Casey Cares child Jacob, who is eight years old and diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition that requires brain surgery to manage. He also has two types of epilepsy as well as cerebral palsy and walks with a walker.
Jacob, or Jake, attended Orioles batting practice with his family where he met players like Austin Hayes and got signed baseballs, before throwing the game’s first pitch with the help of his older sister Madeline. Having been an O’s fan since he was three, Jacob’s favorite Orioles game memory was meeting the Oriole Bird for the first time.
Thanks to Casey Cares, Jacob has been in Casey Cares programs since 2019. With his sister Madeline, he has attended the Nutcracker Ballet and Turkey Hill Experience, visited the Maryland Zoo, received Movie & Pizza Night packages with pajamas, and watched the dinos at Jurassic Quest and more!
“Jacob's favorite event was going to the Laurie Berkner band concert and meeting her afterwards - it was such a special and memorable day!" Jodi, his mother, says.
Jacob was born extremely prematurely and had a brain bleed, which caused his hydrocephalus diagnosis and has resulted in six brain surgeries.
His mother, Jodi, says that her son, “was born at 26 weeks and suffered a brain bleed (intraventricular hemorrhage) on his 4th day of life. The clotting from the brain bleed led to his hydrocephalus diagnosis within a couple of weeks.”
Jodi continues, “He was too small for surgical intervention at the time so we watched in agony as his head swelled with fluid and he suffered what amounted to a protracted traumatic brain injury. He had his first brain surgery at around 2 months old and ultimately had a shunt implanted in his head. He has now had 6 brain surgeries and we never know when he'll need another one.
“He was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy around age 1, and then epilepsy around age 2. He has other related conditions that impact his daily quality of life. Despite it all, he's the happiest, sweetest little guy!” she states.
The mother of two says that each brain surgery was terrifying.
“As parents, we could never have imagined having to see our child carted off to the operating room to have a brain surgery... but we knew that these surgeries would keep him alive so there was no other choice. Jake, like many others with hydrocephalus, has what's called a shunt. With hydrocephalus and living with a VP shunt, we know that at any point it could fail and he'll need another surgery. We have to live with this fear every day, but are so grateful for each day that goes by without another surgery!” Jodi finds.
She adds, “While he has many challenges that impact his life daily, physically, medically, and cognitively, he brings so much joy to everyone he meets! He teaches us all about perseverance, love, and joy! His big sister, Maddy, is also the most amazing little advocate. She is so proud of her brother and does all she can, even at 10, to raise awareness of his conditions. We marvel at her maturity and are beyond proud of her!”
The Baltimore Orioles have partnered with the Casey Cares Foundation for over a decade, providing the nonprofit with tickets for critically ill children to watch baseball games and batting practice. Thank you Baltimore Orioles! Did you know you can donate baseball tickets all season long to our kids, wherever you live? Give us a call at 443-568-0064 to transfer them today!
