What do you get when you mix a passion for paying it forward, with a love for haunted houses, and a drive to support the VEDS Movement and the Make-a-Wish Foundation – all from a family who has persevered through tragedy to bring an October tradition to their community for the past 20 years?
You get Mercy Asylum – a haunted house in Port St. Lucie, Florida where 8,000 visitors enjoy scares for two great causes every autumn.
A Wish Granted and a Dream Achieved
Jacob Blake’s life changed at age 11 when following brain hemorrhage and surgery at age 5, the Make-a-Wish Foundation granted his wish to meet Cher.
“He got backstage to meet her, to see her wigs, her costumes. It changed his life,” said Lauri Blake, Jacob’s mother and Vice President of non-profit Mercy Asylum Productions (Jacob is President). She described Jacob’s lifelong love for all things creepy, having a very particular interest in FX makeup. Cher’s performance sparked something in him that would snowball.
“The following year, he came up to me in the driveway with an idea for a haunted house,” she said. “He wanted to give everything raised back to Make-A-Wish. He explained to me how much that moment of meeting Cher helped him get out of the negative headspace of being ill…he wanted other kids to have the same opportunity.”
Jacob underwent brain surgery at age five due to a brain hemorrhage. His brother, Kruce, had also had his wish granted after surgery following a diagnosis of Hydrocephalus and Dandy Walker Variant. Kruce would later go on to coin the Mercy Asylum name.
A Sudden Tragedy Explains Multiple Medical Issues: VEDS Diagnoses
On December 16, 2020, Michael Blake, Jacob’s father and Lauri’s husband, passed away unexpectedly at 60-years-old.
“He was perfectly healthy,” said Lauri. “My children and I collectively decided to have an autopsy done.” It was revealed that Michael had experienced a dissecting hemorrhage of his ascending aorta with extension into pericardium, due to cardiac tamponade.
“I of course had no idea what most of that meant,” said Lauri. “DNA was stored from my husband’s liver and eventually genetic testing was done.”
Michael’s remains tested positive for the COL3A1 gene, and a post-mortem VEDS diagnosis was confirmed.
Much to her surprise, all three of Lauri’s adult children – including Jacob and Kruce — tested positive for VEDS. VEDS explained so much of the family’s complex medical history.
With the help of the VEDS Movement, Lauri was able to educate herself quickly, advocate for her family and honor her husband’s memory.
“With this knowledge, they can all stay on top of their annual scans, stay on their blood pressure medication, and make healthy lifestyle changes,” she said.
Jacob decided to turn their annual haunted house into Mercy Asylum Productions, cementing their status as a non-profit organization with a clear mission.
“We decided right then that Make-A-Wish will still be a part of us, but now we will always include the VEDS Movement in our donations,” Lauri said. “I am determined to educate as many of the 5000-8000 people that pass through our event on what VEDS is.”
From displaying brochures, to talking with attendees, the whole crew is dedicated to educating people on VEDS, and the mission of Make-a-Wish.
Each year, a picture of Michael and Lauri is kept on display, along with accompanying information about VEDS.
Mercy Asylum Grows
Mercy Asylum grew from a homegrown driveway endeavor, to moving the production to the Blakes’ backyard, to shutting down the whole block for their event – with people lining up to see the new year’s haunted house and donate.
Jacob received an award from the Mayor of Port St. Lucie thanking him for the annual fundraising and awareness event.
Traffic jams created by happy attendees eventually meant a change of venue was necessary.
“We were told by the city that our event was too big to hold at our home,” said Lauri. “Traffic was becoming dangerous.”
In 2018, the Mercy Asylum team rented an event tent and held the Haunted House on a local church’s property.
Providing the production value they are after each year has its costs, with their event landing at roughly $6,000-10,000 to produce the haunted house.
“We spend hundreds on stage makeup,” said Lauri. “Over 350 pieces of lumber, 1,300 screws, and 20 plus bins of props.”
Jacob, with a degree in Technical Theatre, does all of the special effects makeup each night. He makes his way to each actor, starting roughly two hours before doors open. From putting up the haunted house, to taking it down, the production takes roughly two months all together each year.
Mercy Asylum Productions is set to grow even more, in terms of reach and production. Currently, they are looking to secure a permanent building to lease year-round where they can hold more events throughout the year.
Giving Back
In all that they do, the Mercy Asylum Productions team aims to make a life-changing, life-saving impact.
“We want to offer internship opportunities for students in the community,” said Lauri. “From set design, lighting, FX make-up, costume design, acting, and marketing; we want to bring back the passion of volunteering and how wonderful it is to give back to others.”
The joy of Mercy Asylum comes from its pure goal: paying a granted-wish forward and remembering a beloved father lost to VEDS while educating others to help save and improve their lives.
“It is imperative that we are creating a safe place for anyone and everyone with life-threatening illnesses…and disabilities,” said Lauri. “Everyone puts aside their backgrounds, beliefs views, and outside static to work on generating awareness and…having fun…one scare at a time!”
Christopher T. "Chris" Theriot is the Integrated Marketing Communications Manager for the Marfan Foundation and its divisions. Reach Chris at brandcomms@marfan.org