Jack and health
|
This is a Lazy Man's Article (stub). Please contribute to the CWJki by adding to it. |
|
Left on the AGENDA:
|
| “ | I have come to the realization that as I walk this earth with a disability, I walk it in the glory of God. That I may be an example to others. Thank you Lord for my strength. | ” |
| Jack, coping about his dead right arm.[1] | ||
If Jack's failing YouTube channel didn't already scream "culinary cautionary tale", his medical record proves the point. Five strokes robbed him of his dominant right arm and left him legally blind in one eye. They also added dead vocal cords and dysphagia to the mix, compounding his struggles. Kidney stones became another burden, followed by two blown-out Achilles tendons that left him hobbling and struggling with basic mobility. Diabetes, high cholesterol, a fatty liver, and a CPAP machine to keep him breathing round out the collection. Despite this overwhelming medical history, Jack treats each diagnosis like a cosmic joke rather than a consequence, as though his ailments were punchlines in his personal comedy of errors. When his right arm went limp after his fourth stroke, he did not blame years of deep-fried indulgence - it was the tap water, the caffeine, or divine intervention.
For someone who's needed numerous surgical interventions to the point Dr. Frankenstein will be jealous, Jack's denial is practically Olympic-level. While most hear medical warnings as wake-up calls, Jack seems to hear them as background noise - usually drowned out by the overly loud intro music of his latest Jack on the Go fast-food review.
Dieting
Main article: Jack and diets
Jack has a habit of taking up gimmick diets over proper portion control or exercise. The gyst of these diets involves stuffing your face with as much meat as possible while half-assedly avoiding carbs. And somehow, Jack cannot even do that, often abandoning these dieting efforts within months of their start.
Strokes
Main article: The strokes
Jack has somehow managed to survive five strokes between 1999 and 2023 - a feat that defies both medical science and common sense. His first stroke, a TIA in Las Vegas in 1999, was a flashing red light that Jack treated like a minor speed bump. Instead of reflecting on it as a warning sign, he barreled forward into a lifestyle of indulgence, brushing off his health issues with the bravado of a man who thought tap water, not fried food, was the real enemy. The second stroke in 2008 turned into a soapbox moment for Jack, where he focused more on a $100 hospital bill than on addressing his skyrocketing blood pressure.
By 2011, Jack's third stroke came after a caffeine-fueled death march to Las Vegas, where his arm casually slid off the steering wheel mid-drive - a horrifying red flag he simply ignored. Jack later framed it as a "wake-up call from God", though his version of repentance involved cutting back on Red Bull while still gorging on calorie bombs for DA SHOW.
The fourth stroke in 2018 was dubbed the "Arm-taker" for good reason - it left Jack's right arm permanently out of commission. Instead of this being a moment of humility, Jack treated it as a mild inconvenience, assuring fans he would still be there to sling sauces. His fifth stroke in January 2023 was met with silence from his socials until cryptic family posts confirmed the worst. Even after ICU care and a stint in a nursing home, Jack's main priority was getting back to filming "fast food reviews" where he "takes one bite for the show" - a claim as believable as a diet soda cancelling out a triple cheeseburger. Critics pointed out that his wife Tammy practically acts as a chauffeur to his next junk food pilgrimage, enabling his grandeur delusions of YouTube stardom.
Despite the obvious signs - slurred speech, mobility scooters, and a record-breaking tally of poor decisions - Jack continues to frame his health as an anecdotal punchline while ignoring the fact that his "content" revolves around the very lifestyle that landed him here. It is less a cautionary tale, and more an ongoing trainwreck of ego, meat, and denial.
Achilles tendon blowout
"Decides to do a 5K after never exercising once in his life. Blows out both his Achilles tendons."
Around late 2019, Jack and Tammy attended the Dancing Lights 5K Fun Run in Lebanon, Tennessee.[2] Jack posted a quip-filled Facebook video thanking a woman named Karen for inviting them to the event, which was billed as a casual and lighthearted walk.[3] However, the upcoming load on his legs was everything but light.
Jack attempted to walk the 5K but barely made it halfway before suffering a catastrophic injury; blowing out both of his Achilles tendons. The severity of the injury, stemming from what should have been a simple walk, left many baffled and raised serious concerns about his physical condition.
Conflicting accounts and context
Over time, Jack's narrative about his Achilles injuries has shifted. While Jack described the incident as a fluke, some fans speculated that years of poor health played a significant role. Medical conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and inactivity often lead to calcium buildups, which can cause calcific tendinitis - a condition commonly associated with weakened tendons.
During a livestream, Jack attempted to downplay the incident stating: "After this, my Achilles will be better than ever and allow me to exercise more." He acknowledged that his tendons had blown out during the 5K and detailed the reconstructive surgery that followed. The procedure involved removing the damaged sections of his tendons, cleaning his heel of bone spurs and calcium deposits, and weaving a cadaver tendon into his own tissue. Though this is a tried-and-true surgical method, Jack's poor track record with rehabilitation cast serious doubts on his ability to recover.
Prognosis and reaction
His critics remain largely skeptical. One commenter noted:
"If I was to make a safe bet on rent, Jack won't be walking normally. He's already in poor shape. On top of that, he has a horde of other serious health problems affecting his recovery. We also know from his stroke experience that he won't rehab his legs properly. If he couldn't do it for his arm, he's certainly not doing it for his legs."
Their skepticism proved prescient. After his surgeries, Jack became reliant on a wheelchair or mobility scooter to get around. Despite this, he often attempted to hide his reliance on mobility aids during his YouTube videos, positioning himself strategically to maintain the appearance of independence.
Post-surgery update
In a live update streamed on 29 December 2019, Jack thanked Tammy for taking care of him and described the difficulty of recovery. He admitted that he could only apply minimal pressure to his foot and described the pain he felt when trying to use a walker. Jack praised his surgeon, known for helping patients regain mobility after failed surgeries, but his recovery was hampered by his refusal to take prescription painkillers. He recalled taking a single Percocet, experiencing intense sweating and discomfort, and choosing to rely solely on ibuprofen and muscle relaxers thereafter.[4]
Jack's overall health - compounded by his horrific diet, diabetes, past strokes, and a sedentary lifestyle - further impeded his rehabilitation. By the time he suffered his fifth stroke, Jack was already heavily dependent on mobility aids, making the Achilles surgery another chapter in his ongoing health saga.
Although Jack optimistically stated his intention to complete a full 5K after recovery, even his most loyal viewers remained doubtful. His attempt to frame the injury as a step toward better health felt unconvincing, given his ongoing reluctance to make meaningful lifestyle changes.