Written by Nancy Lamb, mother of a Lambda Chi Alpha Member at Simpson College
I still remember the hesitation in my heart the day we let Jake leave for college. In many ways, that moment reflected everything he had already fought through to get there.
When Jake was 16, he was diagnosed with epilepsy completely out of nowhere. One moment life was normal, the next everything changed. His seizures are severe and unpredictable, taking away his awareness and even his ability to breathe. As a parent, you learn quickly how fragile life can be. But Jake learned how to adapt. He became disciplined about sleep, stress, and his health in ways most teenagers never have to consider. He didn’t let his diagnosis define him; he adjusted and kept moving forward.
Jake Lamb and his Big Brother Austin Minch (Simpson, '27)
When Jake told us he wanted to go to college and become a teacher, I felt both fear and pride. We knew the risks, but we also knew his determination. After months of preparation, Jake made the decision to attend Simpson College, and we followed his lead. At first, it wasn’t easy. As a transfer student, he struggled to find his place and felt isolated. But Jake kept trying. He continued putting himself out there until something finally changed.
A Brother of Lambda Chi Alpha reached out, and although Jake was skeptical at first, he gave it a chance. What he found was more than he expected. He found real connection, support, and a sense of belonging. He chose to lean into those relationships, and slowly, I saw my son return not just as someone managing epilepsy, but as someone thriving despite it.
Then came the night that tested everything. Jake had traveled with his Brothers to Ames, Iowa, for a long day of Fraternity Initiation. That evening at dinner, he suffered a seizure. The call I received was every parent’s fear, but what followed showed me exactly the kind of friends Jake had. His Brothers acted immediately. One caught him before he hit the ground, others called 911, cleared space, and stayed with him. Austin Minch (Simpson, '27), Jake’s Big Brother who understood epilepsy and rode with him in the ambulance, took charge, while Joe Degen (Simpson, '26) calmly stayed on the phone with me, relaying information and helping guide care.
Jake depends on people acting quickly in those moments, and they did. Not because they had to, but because of the relationships he had built. He wasn’t alone for a second.
Jake Lamb and Joe Degen (Simpson, '26)
When we arrived at the hospital, we found a waiting room full of 20 of his Brothers. They told me, “You don’t leave a Brother. Not until you know he’s okay.” Some had just met him that day. It didn’t matter. Jake mattered. When I finally saw him, he was awake, smiling, even joking. That’s not typical after a seizure, but this time was different. He felt supported. He knew he wasn’t alone, and that changed everything about how he recovered.
In the days after, I realized this story wasn’t just about what those young men did, as incredible as it was. It was about Jake. It was about the way he chose to keep moving forward after his diagnosis, the way he pursued independence despite real risks, and the way he built relationships strong enough that people showed up without hesitation when it mattered most.
I still worry. I probably always will. But something has changed. I trust him in a way I didn’t before. And I trust the young men he chose to surround himself with.
Because that night showed me something I will never forget. I didn’t just send my son to college. I watched him build a life, a support system, and a Brotherhood that stood beside him when it mattered most.
Jake’s story is one of courage and resilience. But it is also a reminder that no one succeeds alone.
And for that, I will always be grateful.
Note from Partnership Engagement Specialist, Noah Dial:
Often, parents worry about their child going to college: an environment filled with new challenges and unfamiliar faces. With the added stress of an epilepsy diagnosis, Nancy was filled with fear when sending her son to college.
What began as a young man navigating the challenges of epilepsy and the uncertainty of college life became something far greater: a story about resilience, belonging, and the impact of genuine Brotherhood. Through Lambda Chi Alpha, Jake found not only friendship, but a support system that empowered him to pursue independence with confidence. And when adversity struck, his Brothers responded not out of obligation, but out of care, instinct, and commitment to one another.
At Lambda Chi Alpha, Brotherhood is not meant to be performative or conditional. It is built on the belief that every man deserves support, dignity, and a place where he is never left to face hardship alone. Stories like Jake’s remind us that the true value of fraternity life is often found not in grand gestures, but in the quiet moments when people choose to show up for each other.
