posted May 21, 2008
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Working from his hospital bed on a laptop computer, the 19-year-old managed to fulfill his senior class requirements, despite a month in Erlanger’s Trauma Intensive Care Unit and another month in intermediate care, before moving to a patient floor.
“He has been a remarkable patient – and has an extremely positive attitude,” said trauma surgeon Dr. Vicente Mejia, who said Jake’s injuries were “probably one of the worst pelvic traumas I’ve seen.”
On Tuesday, graduation ceremonies were held at Jake’s bedside at Erlanger. “Even though Jake isn’t graduating from Erlanger yet, he has officially graduated from high school,” said Erlanger case worker Carolyn Galyon, who helped spearhead the hospital graduation party.
Jake’s mother Andrea Covington called the graduation ceremony “one of the best moments of my life.”
Making the occasion official were Model High School Principal Glenn White and Dr. Lynn Plunkett, Floyd County superintendent of schools, who drove up from Rome to present Jake with his diploma.
In making the presentation, Mr. White lauded Jake for being a “strong testimony to determination and sheer will power. He’s part of the good that’s going on with kids today and we want to recognize that.”
Also on hand for the presentation was vocational teacher Randy Payne, since Jake earned a dual high school/vocational diploma. A school videographer recorded the event so it could be shown during the school’s graduation ceremonies Saturday.
“Jake will be there with the rest of his senior class when we show this video,” said Mr. White, noting this was the first time in his 17 years at Model High School that a student had taken classes - and graduated - from a hospital bed.
Others participating in the graduation ceremony were Jake’s father, Jamie Bloodworth; stepfather, Roger Oehlert; stepmother, Angela Bloodworth; uncle, Bradley Wilkins; family friend Christy Lewis and Dr. Mejia, whom Jake’s mother calls “our hero.”
“The hospital staff has really embraced Jake and his accomplishments,” said Ms. Galyon. “When they heard he was getting his diploma, they decided to throw a party and Sodexo (Erlanger’s food service company) offered to decorate and provide a Mexican feast since that’s Jake’s favorite food.”
A meeting room on Jake’s floor was set up to accommodate graduation party attendees and Jake was wheeled down to the ceremony in his hospital bed. After receiving his diploma, he ceremoniously threw his cap in the air and proclaimed, “we did it, class of 2008!,” to the sounds of cheers from his family, friends, school officials and hospital staff.
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