Corinne Vien

But then his main doctor back at MGH had him transferred back to MGH temporarily until settling at Tewksbury State Hospital, where he lived while receiving outpatient care at Spalding. Okay, long story short, Jake was constantly shuffled between hospitals. And this certainly made it much more difficult for family to try to track him down.

But then his main doctor back at MGH had him transferred back to MGH temporarily until settling at Tewksbury State Hospital, where he lived while receiving outpatient care at Spalding. Okay, long story short, Jake was constantly shuffled between hospitals. And this certainly made it much more difficult for family to try to track him down.

And I want to say once more, this episode contains sensitive content, including discussions of consent, marital rape, and Jake's growing acceptance of the reality of what he endured. We're starting with Jake's second stay at MGH. This was after Parsons Hill and before he moved to hospice.

And I want to say once more, this episode contains sensitive content, including discussions of consent, marital rape, and Jake's growing acceptance of the reality of what he endured. We're starting with Jake's second stay at MGH. This was after Parsons Hill and before he moved to hospice.

Jake is already in this pseudo-coma, locked in, and doctors are questioning whether he has any meaningful consciousness. It's the winter of 2017.

Jake is already in this pseudo-coma, locked in, and doctors are questioning whether he has any meaningful consciousness. It's the winter of 2017.

Jake was preparing to die, hearing a doctor tell his wife it was time. Something that he'd hear over and over again over the coming months.

Jake was preparing to die, hearing a doctor tell his wife it was time. Something that he'd hear over and over again over the coming months.

Jake's body was highly sensitive and doing something like this could trigger another autonomic storm. Or worse.

Jake's body was highly sensitive and doing something like this could trigger another autonomic storm. Or worse.

I was aghast when Jake first told me this. I found it difficult to believe that she'd attempt that so brazenly out in the open. And that doubt is something I'm sure many survivors come face to face with often.

I was aghast when Jake first told me this. I found it difficult to believe that she'd attempt that so brazenly out in the open. And that doubt is something I'm sure many survivors come face to face with often.

As we can all imagine, this interview is quite difficult for Jake. I can see his mind working through the weight of his own words as he says them out loud, trying to make sense of what happened to him. It's part of his story he shared with very few people. Even some of his closest friends don't know. But forgetting it is impossible.

As we can all imagine, this interview is quite difficult for Jake. I can see his mind working through the weight of his own words as he says them out loud, trying to make sense of what happened to him. It's part of his story he shared with very few people. Even some of his closest friends don't know. But forgetting it is impossible.

Jake often speaks at medical conferences, sharing his experience. And recently, after one of these events, several nurses approached him. They said it wasn't just in one room. It wasn't just one moment. It was happening across multiple floors, in different rooms. The repeated sample collection, the whispered conversations. It had sent waves of concern through the staff.

Jake often speaks at medical conferences, sharing his experience. And recently, after one of these events, several nurses approached him. They said it wasn't just in one room. It wasn't just one moment. It was happening across multiple floors, in different rooms. The repeated sample collection, the whispered conversations. It had sent waves of concern through the staff.

We've reached out to many of these nurses and doctors who were witness to it, and initially a few agreed to talk as long as they remained anonymous and their voices altered. But then, one by one, they backed out. No one is willing to go on record. The fear of losing their jobs keeps them silent. And to be clear, Jake holds no resentment towards the hospital or its staff.

We've reached out to many of these nurses and doctors who were witness to it, and initially a few agreed to talk as long as they remained anonymous and their voices altered. But then, one by one, they backed out. No one is willing to go on record. The fear of losing their jobs keeps them silent. And to be clear, Jake holds no resentment towards the hospital or its staff.

This was uncharted territory for them, too. Everyone was scrambling, trying to understand what was ethical, what was right, what was the protocol. And when there is no protocol, what happens to the person who tries to stop it?

This was uncharted territory for them, too. Everyone was scrambling, trying to understand what was ethical, what was right, what was the protocol. And when there is no protocol, what happens to the person who tries to stop it?