Skip to Content
HCA Florida Healthcare

Spine care: Scott's story

"Santa Scott" Jacob's Christmas tradition seemed in doubt until he got help from the region's only Level 1 trauma center.

May 09, 2025
Scott Jacobs as Santa.

Each Christmas season around Ocala, "Santa Scott" Jacob is known for spreading the cheer and joy for which the legendary St. Nick is renowned. Becoming Santa is a personal passion that he greatly anticipates each year. Yet Scott's happy holiday tradition seemed in doubt in 2024.

Scott fell off a ladder while cleaning his camper and suffered a severe spinal injury. Without immediate treatment, he was risk of permanent paralysis. He was rushed to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, home to this region's only Level 1 trauma center.

HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital are also ranked among America’s top 100 hospitals for spinal surgery services, according to Healthgrades.

"They fixed me. I'm good. I'm back to being Santa," Scott says. "I'm so grateful to this hospital for what they did. If I had gone somewhere else or had to be transported, I might be paralyzed." 

Published:
May 09, 2025
Location:
HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, HCA Florida West Marion Hospital

Related Stories

Emergency care: Heath Brinkley
April 10, 2025
HCA Florida Ocala CT Tech Heath Brinkley returns to work 11 months after being treated at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital's Trauma Center.
Emergency care: Heath Brinkley
April 10, 2025
HCA Florida Ocala CT Tech Heath Brinkley returns to work 11 months after being treated at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital's Trauma Center.
Emergency care: Anne Coryat
February 03, 2020
Anne Coryat thought she was experiencing a sinus infection when she arrived at the ER at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital. After some tests, Dr. Iraj Nikfarjam and staff had to act quickly.
Emergency care: Rayan Massini
October 14, 2019
Ocala Hospital
Rayan Massini's multiple severe injuries lead to a long road of recovery at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, where he now hopes to give back in medicine.