By Sheila Phibbs
The Haldimand Press
HALDIMAND—For the family of Logan Jacobs, March 26, 2021 was a day they couldn’t imagine. After a devastating accident on Haldimand County Road 9 in York last October, followed by months of hospitalization including surgeries and intensive care, Logan finally walked out of the Hamilton Rehabilitation Centre ready to go home.
Logan lives with his oldest sister, Cassandra Fallon, who admits, “We didn’t expect it or even dream about this.”
The days leading up to his homecoming were filled with anticipation as she explains, “His memory was improving – he was excited to come home and knew what it meant.”
Following the accident, Fallon and her husband, Marty Taylor, relocated from Cayuga to a fully accessible home in Hamilton to be closer to her brother.
As Fallon recalls the trauma of five months ago she says, “We spend days thinking we can’t believe this is happening. He was non-responsive. We didn’t expect him to survive. Those memories don’t match up with today.”
According to Fallon, her brother’s recovery is not “normal”. She explains, “The rehab nurses were surprised at the speed of his recovery. It’s crazy when you hear it from so many people, that it’s amazing how he’s progressed following a severe acquired brain injury.”
An ‘at home team’ of various therapists will work with Logan to continue his ongoing rehabilitation. Perhaps being home is in itself the best therapy, as there is more that Logan can do, like get out of his room and go out for walks together. Even though he can’t be left alone, Logan has a new-found sense of freedom. Fallon says, “He is able to get his own breakfast – he has to remember where things are. He is so much more independent than we expected. Even though we were able to see him every day in the hospital and rehab (one at a time due to COVID), now that he’s home it feels like we have so much more time with him.”
Along with therapy, it would seem that an important part of recovery for Logan was seeing his car. After a week at home, he started asking about the car. They learned it hadn’t been crushed yet, so arrangements were made for Logan to visit the wrecking yard.
HAMILTON—Logan Jacobs was happy to be home after five months in hospital and rehabilitation.
Fallon shares, “He was excited to see the car and wanted to rummage through it. He was proud of his car.”
Logan was able to retrieve the licence plate and he even found the watch that Fallon and her husband had given him for his graduation. She says, “That watch is now a real treasure.”
Due to post traumatic amnesia, Logan doesn’t remember the accident and has some memory loss. Fallon says, “Seeing his car was the closure he needed after all the hard work he had put into it. He left feeling proud of his car and it was almost like he needed to say goodbye.”
As he continues his recovery, Logan says he is feeling fine and “enjoying freedom.”
He is looking forward to driving again and says, “I’m probably going to get the same car – Nissan Altima.”
Logan was ready to get out of the rehab centre, but appreciates all that was done for him while there. He says, “Thanks to all the staff that helped me and to all the people who prayed for me.”
For all of Logan’s family, there is more excitement to come this summer as they are preparing to move back to Haldimand. There is a new baby arriving as well, as his other sister is expecting, and Fallon says, “Everyone is looking forward to it.”
With much to look forward to and much to be thankful for, Logan Jacobs’ story is one of resilience and faith. It’s the resilience of a young man whose determination to survive and recover is an inspiration to those around him. It’s the faith of a family, supported by the community, that believed in the strength of their brother and the power of prayer. Fallon says, “When you look at the car it really reaffirms our belief in a higher power. Logan feels like he was given a second chance at life and has not been taking it for granted.”
