Jennifer Barker
Jennifer Barker is a proud Tennessean, mother of two children, and caretaker of two grandchildren. Jennifer’s youngest son, Jacob, was diagnosed with Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) when he was six months old. DMD runs in Jennifer’s family — both of her older brothers had the condition, so Jennifer quickly noticed Jacob’s developmental delays at his young age.
DMD is a progressive genetic disease that gradually leads to the loss of muscular and pulmonary function. When Jacob was diagnosed, the life expectancy for children living with DMD was just 16 years. A testament to Jacob’s strength, as well as medical advancement, Jacob has beaten the odds and has lived 31 joyful years. Jennifer describes Jacob as the strongest person she’s ever known.
As a child, Jacob loved to play baseball, fish, and spend his time outdoors. Jennifer affectionately remembers Jacob’s love for snakes. She reminisces when he used to catch and bring snakes into the house as a young boy.
Jacob lost his ability to walk when he was 9 years old. The day he stopped walking, Jennifer remembers Jacob comforting her, saying “it’s okay Mom.” Strong-minded and soft-hearted, Jacob continues to live his life to the fullest. He has a strong relationship with his nieces and nephews, sharing their love for playing Xbox and listening to country music. Jacob often goes to their baseball games, giving pointers from the sidelines.
Jacob receives his care through TennCare’s ECF CHOICES program, and he relies on private duty nursing (PDN) for in-home support. In 2024, TennCare tried to cut Jacob’s PDN hours in half, a devastating decision based on an inaccurate pre-admission evaluation that wrongly diagnosed Jacob’s condition as improving. Jennifer turned to the Tennessee Justice Center for help with Jacob’s TennCare hearing. TJC represented Jacob in his hearing and successfully fought to have his PDN coverage reinstated. When asked what Medicaid meant to Jennifer, she responds, “I would work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for him [Jacob]. It would’ve been detrimental for me. [Having coverage reinstated] allows me to do other things like run errands and pay bills. It gives me the little extra break I need.”
Through sleepless nights and hospital stays, Jennifer stays by Jacob’s side – exactly where she wants to be. When asked about the most rewarding part of being a mother, Jennifer proudly states, “he completes my life.” She is his protector and will always fight for him. With the pending cuts to Medicaid, Jennifer has already noticed a threat to the services that Jacob receives. Jennifer now drives Jacob almost two hours to Nashville for every single doctor’s appointment since telehealth services are no longer available. With Jacob’s feeding tube, “every bump we hit in the car hurts him.”
Jennifer is a passionate advocate for healthcare access for all. Without Medicaid, “He [Jacob] would’ve died because some of us are born into families that aren’t rich.” Jacob’s wheelchair alone costs upward of $27,000. If it were not for Medicaid, Jacob would not have access to vital medical equipment he needs.
Jennifer will never stop fighting for Jacob. “When he doesn’t feel good, I don’t feel good. He’s my world.” The Tennessee Justice Center is honored to recognize Jennifer as a 2025 Mother of the Year. We celebrate Jennifer’s commitment and love for her son, Jacob. Her fight to ensure Jacob’s access to quality healthcare is an inspiration to all.
