Sogge on the mend, remains hospitalized

Nine-year-old Jacob Sogge underwent surgery April 9, 2018 at the University of Minnesota Children's Hospital in Minneapolis to have a growth caused by a Type 2 Chiari Malformation removed. A Chiari Malformation appears in the base of the skull and cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance. As a result of the growth, Jacob was experiencing both balance and speech issues, which significantly affected his daily activities. At the same time, doctors repaired a valve in his throat.

The complication was anticipated to be complicated, one that would take a team of 10 doctors working 10-12 hours to complete. His hospital recovery was expected to be a week to ten days with additional recuperation time at home. Unfortunately, Jacob has undergone multiple surgeries since his first surgery and has experienced complications and setbacks during his recovery. He remains hospitalized at Children's Hospital in Minneapolis at this time.

A neck brace and tracheotomy tend to impede some of his progress because they make communication difficult, but medical professionals are currently working on weaning Jacob off his neck brace. Jacob is gaining weight with the help of a gastrostomy tube inserted through the abdomen that delivers nutrition directly to the stomach. It's one of the ways doctors can make sure that he gets the fluid and calories he needs to continue to grow.

Jacob's progress is constant but slow. His dad, Wayne Sogge, tells us that Jacob is doing well; he's standing again, but not yet walking. They are playing games with him to strengthen his memory, and he's working with numbers and letters.

Jacob's entire family; his mother, Nina Sogge, and his brothers, Stephen and Justin and Ryan, were all able to spend Christmas with Jacob and Wayne. Jacob's twin brother, Stephen was also able to spend additional time with Jacob over his Christmas holiday. While in the Twin Cities, Wayne stays at the Ronald McDonald House and he's been able to attend a support group for parents whose children are also long-term patients at the hospital. He said that, emotionally, Jacob is doing very well. He remains in high spirits most of the time and keeps trying to do all the things they're asking him to do.

The family is currently looking forward to Jacob's transfer to LifeScape Rehab Center in Sioux Falls, S.D., within the next few weeks. While at LifeScape, they will focus on helping Jacob re-learn to walk and speak. This step is just one step closer to the day they are looking forward to, the day they will be able to bring him home.