Brian Arensman

We are asking for support for the Arensman family at this time. As some of you may know, Brian went into the ER at West Penn on June 26th with terrible leg pain from a toe infection he had been dealing with. While in the ER they thought maybe it was a blood clot, but they soon learned that it was an infection called Necrotizing fasciitis.  He had to be rushed back for emergency surgery, where they learned that this infection had taken over his body. He went into cardiac arrest 3 times in surgery and once in the ICU. They had to then take him back Wednesday morning after he was some what stable, to amputate his left leg below the knee. They thought they they had all of the infection. They learned the infection was in his blood stream and was attacking his organs. He was placed on a ventilator, and dialysis as he was starting to swell very badly and his blood pressure was rapidly dropping.  They then decided that his leg was still infected and took him back for surgery again. They decided that they should  life flight Brian to Allegheny General Hospital. They needed to wait as he was on several medications for his heart because they were having a hard time keeping his blood pressure up. When getting to AGH he went back to the OR immediately for another procedure. They then removed more of his left leg, to above the knee. Brian has been stable for a few days now. They believe they are ahead of the infection. He is still on the ventilator and dialysis until they feel his heart and other organs are able to handle the pressure of being off of it. He has been making baby steps like squeezing his wife's hand and moving his right foot. We are asking if you can please help his family as Brian has no short term disability and will be in the hospital for several months. He may not even be able to go back to work.  They will be incurring many hospital bills throughout his continued treatment. Shanon and his daughter Alysa will need help at home with bills, food, parking at the hospital, and everyday expenses. Please continue to pray for our Friend Brian and his Family.