Ian’s Fight: Recovering After Life-Changing JIA Jaw Reconstruction

Ian was 8 when JIA picked this fight. For 8 years we did everything asked of us. Weekly Injections. Medications. Seclusion. MANY Specialists. And still, I helplessly watched as it damage his knees, ALL fingers, toes and the destruction of both jaw joints. His airway dangerously narrowed to just 2mm. We knew HOW to FIX it. BUT we had to wait YEARS for his bones to finish growing. THEN, on August 24th, Ian was READY. 🦾 After a 7+ hour surgery, both jaw joints were replaced with custom titanium prosthetics while surgeons broke, repositioned (advanced jaw 21mm) and rebuilt his facial structure. For the 1st time, we weren’t watching JIA take something from Ian. We were rebuilding what it took. ❤️‍🩹 Now comes the 8-week recovery, with a caregiver required 24/7. And I’m that caregiver. The timing didn’t allow me to financially prepare. Due to a cyberattack @ Fiserv Pharmaceuticals, Ian’s custom prosthetics were 8-9 months delayed; pushing this surgery into 2027. Then suddenly everything came together, leaving me only a few weeks to notify my employer. I expected working remotely to remain an option as it had before, but ultimately FMLA became my only option, leaving 7 of his 8 recovery weeks unpaid. While that’s not realistic on any level, it was unsafe for me to wait. So now I’m trusting God to help us find a way and doing something I’m terrible at… asking for help. I’ve always been the person on the other side of this page. I’ll see a family needing thousands and think, what difference could my measly contribution possibly make? Now, being on this side of it, I get it now. IT MATTERS. We aren’t asking one person to carry us through these 8 weeks. But if Ian’s story reaches enough people willing to carry just a tiny piece, even $10 at a time could mean closing the gap for Ian & I to stay in our home for another month during his recovery. And as I’m learning with each new day, help doesn’t only equal money. A meal. Something from his ever changing recovery list. Sharing his story. Sitting with him while I run an errand. A most of all, a prayer. It ALL counts. For years I watched JIA take things from my son. Now I’m just praying I can stay beside him while he gets some of them back. Same warrior. Different chapter. More tomorrows. That’s the goal. 💙 🦾🎗️ #BetOnIan | #TeamIan