Please send good vibes for JackJohnSki

G

Gretchen.

Active member
JackJohnSki aka Jack-John Arendt and I are from the same small town in Wisconsin. This kid loves two things: smiling and skiing (both on snow and on water). On November 8th Jack-John was seriously injured in a car accident on his way to the ski hill when a driver swerved into the oncoming lane and hit his car head on. The medical responders called the crash unsurvivable and at this time they are still not yet aware of the full extent of Jack-John's injuries. In the letter from Jack-John's dad on the GoFundMe page he gives a lot of credit to his son's skiing friends, along with Toyota safety systems and the first responders, for his son's survival.

There is a GoFundMe page currently set uphttps://www.gofundme.com/jack-john-arendt and also a Caring Bridge (you will have to register to view), but most of all what Jack-John could use right now is a lot of good vibes and support from the skiing community. With multiple broken bones at minimum it is going to be at least awhile until Jack-John can be back on skis, and it's hard to imagine him not skiing as he literally skis more often than anyone I know. The ski hill is an hour drive from our town and he was going there almost daily during the season.

Please send some good vibes to Jack-John either on this thread or on his Youtube channel so that he can check them out when he is feeling better. https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/875380/John-Arendt-16-17-Season-Edit

Thanks everyone!
 
My thoughts go out to John. Hang in tight. Skiers are resourceful and are tougher than normal people. Keep NS updated on his condition.
 
Was crushed to see this the weekend after shredding with Jack John at Troll. Praying for a full recovery.
 
I followed him on Instagram a while back and he really seems like an amazing guy (plus he shreds). Seeing this type of thing is tough, but there's a great community behind you, man. Much love, stay strong.
 
Don't know John personnally but these things are never fun to hear. Heal up John! Sending you my best wishes!
 
Thank you to everyone who has sent messages so far!

As of right now they have not had much to update on the Caring Bridge site. At this point it is a waiting game for Jack's body to be ready to be removed from the sedation and pain meds and until that happens they will keep working to mend his other injuries.
 
13857799:Gretchen. said:
Thank you to everyone who has sent messages so far!

As of right now they have not had much to update on the Caring Bridge site. At this pont it is a waiting game for Jack's body to be ready to be removed from the sedation and pain meds and until that happens they will keep working to mend his other injuries.
Click to expand...

...so it is looking like he will survive? (100000x fingers crossed)
 
Holy shit... that dude taught me how to hit my first rail in the park like 4 years ago. Cool guy and an even better skier. Thoughts and prayers goin out to him and his family!
 
Damn! super sad to hear this, I'm super glad to hear he is doing okay for a super gnarly accident. I hope he gets on his feet soon and skis as well.

-Shiro
 
I personally don’t know him but judging from all these comments it sounds like he’s a really cool guy. Get well soon so you can get back to shredding!
 
They were able to do an MRI yesterday and confirm there was no neck injury, however they did see evidence of some damage to his brain. They won't know the extent until further down the road. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers these holidays.
 
Heart breaking, John sounds like a great dude. Lets try to keep this as close to the top as we can, get this guy and his family the support they need right now
 
Jack-John has been moved to a brain rehabilitation facility in Chicago where he is working on speech, physical, and occupational therapy. As of a few days ago he has started speaking a few words to his friends and family, which is great news!
 
13874581:Gretchen. said:
Jack-John has been moved to a brain rehabilitation facility in Chicago where he is working on speech, physical, and occupational therapy. As of a few days ago he has started speaking a few words to his friends and family, which is great news!
Click to expand...

Wow... this was a tough read, hit me in the feels. Prayers up for Jack-John.

Based on your comment, I assuming he is out of the medically induced coma? Is there any kind of prognosis at this point or direction regarding his road to recovery?
 
13874989:Park_Ranger said:
Wow... this was a tough read, hit me in the feels. Prayers up for Jack-John.

Based on your comment, I assuming he is out of the medically induced coma? Is there any kind of prognosis at this point or direction regarding his road to recovery?
Click to expand...

There's an update site that the family only wants close friends/family to have access to but I'll paraphrase best I can on what is going on so far.

Essentially, he's out of the ICU (and the coma) and into a rehab facility. He hasn't been speaking much besides some grunting or when he's in pain. That's about all I feel comfortable sharing without going into details. Anyways, the good news is he's making progress.
 
13874993:Kretzschmar said:
Essentially, he's out of the ICU (and the coma) and into a rehab facility. He hasn't been speaking much besides some grunting or when he's in pain. That's about all I feel comfortable sharing without going into details. Anyways, the good news is he's making progress.
Click to expand...

Yup, please say no more if his family wants to keep things private. I am glad that he is out of the ICU and hopefully in a somewhat more comfortable place, and I am happy to hear that he is making some progress.
 
I had a similar situation happen a few years back, the support and love from newschoolers and the ski community was amazing. You will pull through bud hang in there, in my thoughts!

**This post was edited on Jan 2nd 2018 at 2:36:07pm
 
13926306:quixotic said:
update?
Click to expand...

So to TLDR the many entries from their update site:

John was transferred out of the acute rehabilitation facility on April 6th, after 106 days of being there.

"It has reintegrated the capacities of Jack in a manner where he can now look forward to a meaning full life that is no longer definitively defined by the events of Nov 8, 2018. Typical inpatient stays at SRALab on the TBI ward are 10 to 30 days. Jack will have been at SRALab 102 days upon his scheduled release."

He has been making very steady, linear progress which isn't very usual with TBIs such as this which is excellent news. He has moved facilities and progressing in his rehab. His parents are remodeling his room for his return home which should be time this July.
 
13926344:Kretzschmar said:
So to TLDR the many entries from their update site:

John was transferred out of the acute rehabilitation facility on April 6th, after 106 days of being there.

"It has reintegrated the capacities of Jack in a manner where he can now look forward to a meaning full life that is no longer definitively defined by the events of Nov 8, 2018. Typical inpatient stays at SRALab on the TBI ward are 10 to 30 days. Jack will have been at SRALab 102 days upon his scheduled release."

He has been making very steady, linear progress which isn't very usual with TBIs such as this which is excellent news. He has moved facilities and progressing in his rehab. His parents are remodeling his room for his return home which should be time this July.
Click to expand...

thanks brother.

hopefully the recovery keeps going well!
 
Any update?

edit: nevermind found it, progress looks really good, major milestone in two weeks, he gets to go home! :)

**This post was edited on Sep 19th 2018 at 1:36:18pm
 
13943792:TRVP_ANGEL said:
Any update?
Click to expand...

John was back home for a few weeks finally! He left the rehab facility in June after his time there was done and his parents had gotten his new bed, wheelchair ramp, and other accommodations put in. He started walking again (in a standing frame) after a 10 week delay and even made it down the hallway in the frame.

In July, he went back to the rehab facility for more tests/therapy but was able to go home on some weekends.

"For Jack to return home at months end, it became apparent as we worked through the weekend that great gains are needed this month. Mary was able to articulate and demonstrate Jack’s specific needs, the capacity required to meet those needs and the individual commitments necessary from an expanded care team to assure that capacity is available to Jack. Jack still requires coordinated intensive therapies and his stay at Clearview may be extended a few months until his success at home is assured. Clarity is a marvelous thing and our collective desire to bring Jack home will not preempt our capacity to do so successfully."

At the end of July, Jack was finally showing the staff at Clearview the initiative they have been hoping for, the increasing capacity to read, to calculate mathematical problems, to begin to lay down and retrieve new memory and to consistently actively participate in all his therapies.

From his parents at the beginning of August:

"We have funded care at Clearview for Jack to November but plan on having Jack return home in early October. My sister Mary has offered to come and assist us in getting settled into the ongoing therapy routine as Jack will need speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy, both in home and in an outpatient clinical setting for a long time to come. It is still unclear the level of custodial care Jack will need as his capacity to improve in mobility and transfers continues to grow. It is clear though that he will need constant companionship until his memory improves."

His left kneecap is having issues with pain during movement (it was shattered in the crash) so a minor surgery over Labor Day weekend seemed to have remedied that.

October 2nd goal of him coming home still looks to be on track and to quote another entry from his parents:

"We are acquiring durable medical equipment, athletic training equipment and games for Jack’s rehabilitation at home. We have posted ads for caregivers to provide companionship for Jack, assist in cares, practice rehabilitation therapies and build structural redundancy into his care team."

Hope that's a solid TLDR for you folks.
 
Jack John man you are a trooper. What happened to you is basically the gnarliest thing possible, and still you're pushing through. Thoughts are with you and your family...keep on keeping on!
 
Soon enough he will be like jay Rawe

Sending all kinds of crazy shit

**This post was edited on Jul 9th 2019 at 9:28:40pm
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top