JEFFERSON, Iowa – Jake Garnett remembers the exact moment in November of 2024 that his life changed forever. “I went into the ditch, and that was that. I bumped my head on top of my sunroof and was instantly paralyzed.”
There was no long warning, no gradual decline. Just a single accident that left him facing permanent paralysis and a lifetime of medical care. Since that day, imaging, specialty appointments and emergency visits have become part of everyday life. Jake has had several MRIs since the accident and knows they will continue. This level of monitoring is not temporary; it is ongoing and necessary.
After the accident, Jake could no longer live independently. His mother, Beth Thielen, brought him home and became his full-time caregiver. Every appointment, every transfer and every mile on the road begins with her.
Getting Jake out the door for an appointment is not simple. “It takes me at least two hours to get him ready and into the van,” Beth explained. Even preparing for a single appointment requires physical strength, time and careful coordination. That effort is multiplied when care is far away. And the cost is not just exhaustion.
Travel itself puts Jake at risk. Due to the extent of his injuries, his body can no longer regulate temperature, making both cold and heat dangerous. Beth described what that means in real terms. “It takes hours and hours to get him warmed back up. And when he overheats, he can’t feel it.” These swings affect his blood pressure and can trigger serious complications.
For Jake, being outside for prolonged periods is simply not an option. And yet, without local access to advanced imaging, this is exactly what would be required. Long drives, extended transfers and hours away from the controlled environment his body depends on.
That is why having MRI services available in Jefferson is critical. When asked how important it is to have that service available on daily basis, Jake responded without hesitation: “Oh man, it’s very important.”
Beth sees the difference in miles, minutes and physical toll. “The least amount of time he’s out of the house, the better,” she said. “A trip to Jefferson is manageable. A trip to Des Moines or another larger hospital is not. It’s a 20-minute ride for him,” she explained, “compared to an hour or more there and an hour or more back.” Each additional mile increases pain, fatigue and risk, for both of them.
Beyond the logistics, there is something deeply personal about receiving care close to home. Jake noticed it immediately. “At Greene County Medical Center, they know you and they know your needs.” For someone whose care is frequent and lifelong, that familiarity brings dignity and trust.
For Beth, the value is clear and constant. “Having the hospital here in Jefferson and having them add more and more services means I don’t have to take him so far. This is extremely valuable for us, extremely valuable.”
For families like Jake’s state-of-the-art care in a rural community is not just about convenience or preference. It is about safety. It is about preserving strength for the patient and the caregiver. It is about sustainability. And it is about ensuring that when life changes in an instant, the care you need to survive and live afterward is already close to home.