Jaden and his friends were playing basketball when he collapsed, experiencing cardiac arrest. His friends initially thought it was a prank but panic quickly set in as they scrambled for help.
Jaden was resuscitated twice on the way to the hospital. As his condition showed little improvement, Kathleen, Jaden’s CCC Care Manager, faced an immense challenge. “When I first assessed him, he was unresponsive, needed a ventilator to breathe, and required assistance due to his fragile airway,” she recalled.
Initially, plans were made to transfer Jaden to a nursing facility and halt therapy due to his lack of progress. However, his mother refused to accept this outcome and pleaded with his Care Manager to get him home.
Then something remarkable happened: Jaden’s eyes opened. This was a glimmer of hope. His mother’s efforts were paying off. Day by day, Jaden’s condition at the hospital steadily improved. He eventually was able to breathe on his own—a monumental step toward returning home. His mother began preparations, first moving to a first-floor apartment, and with guidance and support from the CCC Care Team made necessary home modifications, completed home care training, and arranged for Private Care Assistants.
Michelle, Jaden’s CCC Transition Coordinator, played a pivotal role in this journey. She coordinated home accessibility updates, navigated Medicaid benefits, and ensured that Jaden’s needs were met every step of the way.
Later, thanks to CCC donor generosity, Jaden’s journey was made a little easier by providing him with a cushion grip switch to activate his iPad, which helped him regain a sense of empowerment and normalcy in his daily life.
Today, Jaden is home, enveloped by the love of his family. The immense smile that illuminated his face upon returning home spoke volumes, sending a powerful message: “I’m home.”
