Aid Tristan's Journey to Recovery

My son Tristan is currently in the Neuroscience ICU with no timeline for release or recovery. We went in for an evaluation and he was admitted immediately. There was a miscommunication between the hospital team and the doctor who sent us over, and I received a phone call saying that he was not breathing and they needed permission to perform life-saving measures. Tristan has faced endless challenges his entire childhood and the biggest ones are yet to come. Once his current condition improves, he will undergo life-saving brain surgery. We are facing high medical and medication bills, lost wages from missing work, and although I have too much pride to ask, I currently rely on money loaned to me for gas just to get back and forth and be with him and speak with his team of doctors.

Tristan turned 21 years old two months ago and the only thing he wanted for his birthday was a durable piano to replace the one he received for Christmas that was broken when he had a seizure and fell on it. Tristan was 4 years old when he became unresponsive and had to be life-flighted to a hospital in downtown St. Louis. He has suffered from severe seizures ever since. Throughout the course of his childhood and into adulthood, he has seen hundreds of doctors and specialists, been prescribed countless different types of medications, and has had an endless amount of hospitalizations from seizures and injuries sustained from falls. Tristan has an indomitable spirit and is one of the most loving, kind, and selfless individuals you could ever hope to meet. I am very proud to be his dad and would give anything in the world to have had him not suffer through what he has been through.

As his dad and caretaker, I have been on this journey with him every step of the way. I have missed countless hours of work and lost more jobs than I can count due to the unpredictability and severity of his condition. Tristan’s seizures have only gotten worse over the years and his quality of life tears my heart out. It feels like it has just been survival. He has had to have staples on his head and face, stitches on his face and arms, and surgery requiring metal rods in his arm to repair a compound fracture he suffered from falling down stairs at school. It’s just been endless. I prepare his meals and clean for him, help him shower, do his laundry, administer his medications, and take him for every emergency hospital visit and appointment. It’s been very challenging but I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. I pray to God daily for my son’s health and to watch over him. I pray every day for the strength to accept whatever comes and not let it harden my heart.

I’ve never done anything like this and honestly, I don’t have any expectations. Whatever we do receive will 100% be used to help and support Tristan through this and what is to come. Tristan has a young sister and brother desperately waiting for him to get back home. Much love.