My name is Jacob Wortz. I served for a total of 16 years in the Army in various duties. I first worked as a lab tech (92B/91K) at Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA. After a two-year break, I returned to active service as a soils, asphalt, and concrete technical specialist with the 79th Combat Engineer BN (heavy) in Karlsruhe, Germany.
I applied to the Armed Forces Physician Assistant (PA) Course and although I had a slim to none chance of being accepted, I was the first person without a lot of medical experience to be accepted into the PA program. I spent nine years working as a Physician Assistant before I left the military. I used my experience to transition into a different way of assisting people. I was hired into the Social Security Administration (SSA) as a disability examiner and later reviewer. For the next 21 years I worked helping people who were applying for Social Security disability. I retired from SSA in April 2025 due to my deteriorating health condition.
I have been married to my wife, Carol for 48 years. We met in college and were married in 1977. We have 2 children Jacob, Jr (we call him Phil) and Cynthia Yasser. Phil and his wife, Yari, have 5 children. Their oldest, age 22, works in a factory. The second oldest, age 20 is in college and the three younger children age 14, 12 and 7 are in high school, middle school and elementary school, respectively. At this time, Phil, Yari, and the three younger children are preparing to become missionaries. Our denomination requires the missionaries to raise their own funds prior to going to the mission field, and my son’s family is almost there.
My daughter, Cynthia, is like her father in wanting to see the world. She taught in Taiwan for a year, then she taught in Morocco for three or four years. She met her husband, Youssef, in Morocco. She decided to try her teaching skills in China. She taught there until 2020. She came home for the Chinese New Year in 2020 and then could not return because of COVID. She now teaches 1st grade at a local elementary school. They have 2 children, a five-year-old and a three-year-old.
10 years ago, an autoimmune virus attacked my kidneys. It was called Pauci-immune (P-ANCA) virus, and it had destroyed two-thirds of my glomeruli by the time it was caught. Although some of my kidney function returned, the filtration rate has diminished over time to the point that I am facing dialysis in the very near future. I already have a Peritoneal Dialysis port in place, but I have been delayed in starting dialysis due to an inguinal hernia that needed to be repaired. I will be on dialysis soon.
Before being shut down due to my PD Port placement and subsequent hernia surgery, I was active in caring for my lawn, traveling, serving on the Homeowners Association board, and attending church. At this time, I am limited in lifting and traveling, but I look forward to being able to do both in the near future. There is still so much of the world I want to see.
We need you to help us support Jacob. Whether through spreading the word on social media or considering becoming a donor, you can make a profound impact!
Living kidney donation has been proven to be safe. There are no long term consequences to the donor. After recovery, donors can live a normal life with one kidney.
DOVE will assist all prospective donors throughout the process and make sure they do not incur any out-of-pocket expenses related to the evaluation or surgery.
Please click on the link below if you would like to learn more OR call (551) 233-1611