Jack's Story

Jack
Age 13
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

St. John's Children's Hospital

When 12-year-old Jack came home from a hike covered in ticks, his parents watched for signs of illness. They were right to be vigilant. Jack soon spiked a 104.6 degree fever. Then his right hip began to hurt so much that he couldn't walk and spots appeared on his skin. He had contracted Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

At a local hospital, doctors started Jack on intravenous antibiotics and soon discovered a staph infection. Jack’s health began to decline and it became a battle to keep him alive. Predicting that he would go into septic shock, he was transferred to St. John’s Children’s Hospital. With an infected hip, surgery was his only option. After going into respiratory distress while recovering from surgery, his life was in grave danger.

Loved ones were asked to pray for Jack's recovery. They asked their friends, who asked theirs, and so on. His family said that at one point, people on six continents were praying for him. Then miracles happened. After 78 days, he recovered and began to walk again. Medicine, specialized care and the power of prayer saved Jack’s life.

Jack's family calls him a "centrifugal force." He's had an indescribable impact on thousands of people who rooted for a sick boy—a boy who has forever touched their lives.