'Duck Dynasty' Jep Robertson Recovers from Life-Threatening Illness, Thanks Fans for their Prayers

By Shawn Schuster
Jep Robertson
Jep Robertson

Duck Dynasty's Jep Robertson is recovering well from a recent health scare that put him on life support in the hospital for four days last week.

"Well, I about died this past Sunday," Jep tweeted. "I'm doing much better now. Thanks for all the prayers!"

The youngest of the Robertson clan, 36-year-old Jep appeared on the Fox and Friends television show with his wife Jessica to talk about the scary ordeal.

"I'm glad to be alive," he said, giving further details on a seizure he suffered while deer hunting in a tree stand near his Louisiana home on October 19. "I just reached down to grab my bow and just fell out for, they said five minutes. I have no memory."

Jep reports that the seizure was so bad, he momentarily didn't recognize his brothers, his wife, and even his mother, Miss Kay. "I feel terrible about that, because I know that really hurt her feelings," he admitted. "Willie said I would ask him for money, and then I would punch him," the star joked.

As for the cause of the seizure, Jep says the doctors believe it was meningitis and encephalitis that he caught from a mosquito. Meningitis is an inflamation of the membranes surrounding your brain and spinal cord and is most often caused through a viral infection, although it can also be caused from bacterial and fungal infection. Depending on the cause, it can ultimately be a life-threatening illness.

Encephalitis, on the other hand, is a similar inflammation of the brain that can cause seizures, hallucinations, and memory problems in advanced stages. It can also be caused through either viral or bacterial infections.

Both illnesses can be cured through proper treatment depending on the cause of the infection.

Jep continues to be upbeat about the whole ordeal, relaying some humor from his father, Phil Robertson. "My dad was at the end of the bed and he said, 'Well, did you see a light?' and I said, 'No,' and he said, 'That may be a problem.'"

When asked if this experience will prevent the avid huntsman from heading back into the field any time soon, Jep replied, "They said I gotta wait a few weeks. I'm really mad about that, but hey, whatever."

The season premiere of Duck Dynasty Season 7 will start on Wednesday, November 19 on A&E.

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