Photo: Davis Family.
Jake Davis was born to ride a surfboard. He’s got one of the most naturally powerful styles of his generation, and if you surf South Orange County often enough, you’ve likely already been showered in his spray. Not to mention he spends a fair amount of time on the North Shore training with Sunny Garcia, so you know he’s proven himself in heavier surf as well. The best anyone can figure is that surf genes must run in the Davis family, since his older brother Luke is frequently compared to a young Tom Curren.
Unfortunately, the younger Davis is out of the water for a while, and he needs your help to get back in the lineup. Yesterday, Jake underwent emergency spinal surgery after being completely debilitated by severe back pain for the last 8 months.
Davis began experiencing pain in early summer. As USA Jr. Team captain and a budding pro, Davis kept busy despite his excruciating pain, spending plenty of time on the road and in the water. However, things took a turn for the worst during a trip to Hawaii early in the winter season. Davis went over the falls head first into the reef on a large wave. He hit his head on the bottom, and he felt the impact down into his neck as well.
When he returned home, he began to feel the effects of serious spinal trauma. His father Glen explains on Jake’s fundraiser website, “He had 3 separate occasions when a random feeling of electric shock shot through his spine. The jolt went from his neck straight down to his low back and into his legs. Each time he described the need to stay very still. Afraid that if he moved even slightly he could become paralyzed.” In addition to his chronic pain, Jake was clearly exhibiting the signs of scary spinal neurological problems.
After a handful of trips to the ER, dozens of scans and X-rays, and plenty of visits to various doctors, Davis’ symptoms were only getting worse. “Jake experienced back and stabbing chest pains, severe head and neck pain, low back, leg & hip pain. Strange tingling down legs & feet, arms & hands. The feeling of a jolt moving through his arm. Also, his left foot moving involuntarily on the exam table. Not a good sign. Jake literally felt like he could die. He was now exhibiting neurological symptoms.” says Glen.
Photo: Davis Family.
Fortunately, Davis and his family were able to connect with Orthopedic Neurological Surgeon, Dr. Bray. Bray found the root cause that other doctors before had not been able to identify. He found that Davis had a huge throbbing vein on his spine between his T1 and T4 vertebrae, or what is known as a spinal AVM. Because of the large size of the vein, Dr. Bray scheduled surgery immediately. Apparently, the surgery went well, and Davis is recovering. He will begin rehabbing shortly.
Unfortunately, Davis’ surgery was out of network, and so his family is responsible for the full cost of the operation. If you’d like to help this young surfer get back in the water, feel free to send your well wishes, prayers, and donations of any size to the Davis family here.
