Anderson Family Medical Emergency Help

I am Joie Fromherz, a long time family friend of Brenner and Sunny Anderson. I am posting this GoFundMe in hopes of relieving some of the financial burden that the Andersons will soon be experiencing after the terrifying medical emergency they have recently endured.

On Saturday morning, March 9th, Brenner Anderson was rushed to the ER with unbearable back pain and difficulty breathing. He had been experiencing unusual health symptoms for weeks, including abdominal pain, severe bodily swelling, extreme fatigue, labored breathing, among others. Visits to his regular doctor and bloodwork as well as abdominal scans gave no help or answers. He was told to "just keep an eye on things and come back in a month for another exam."

Once in the ER, Brenner learned he had severe heart failure. His heart was not pumping fully. This was putting his organs under extreme duress. Tests also showed he had multiple blood clots in his lungs, and severe pneumonia. He had not had a fever in months, and had no chest pain or coughing, so these diagnoses were shocking. Brenner, who had zero previous health history of heart issues of any kind, was in stage 4 heart failure.

He was then transported via ambulance to Cherry Hill Swedish Hospital in Seattle where he was admitted to the ICU under the watchful eye of the wonderful team of cardiovascular nurses and doctors. He was administered strong antibiotics, blood thinners, diuretics and heart medicine to help his heart pump fully through multiple IV's and a PICC line.

Once Brenner's pain was triaged and the fluid in his body finally began to be released, the cardiac team was able to set a plan for further testing. This included multiple X-rays and ultrasounds, EKG's, echocardiograms, and extensive blood work.

After three full days in the ICU, he was able to transferred to the regular cardiology floor, and gradually weaned off of the IV medicines and graduated to oral forms of the medications. Once fully disconnected from all IV's and with his heart responding well to the pill medications, Brenner was able to undergo an in-depth MRI stress test.

These tests showed that Brenner's ejection fraction (the rate at which his heart pumped blood outward) was only at 16%. Normal rates measure at 55-65%. They also showed his left heart ventricle is enlarged.

The most puzzling factor was that the medical team found everything else in Brenner's tests to look "completely great." No signs of myocarditis (which is what the doctors were originally anticipating as the culprit) and no damaged tissue, arrhythmias, or other signs that pointed to a root cause.

The doctors attributed the heart failure to a combination of many possible factors, including extreme stress and exhaustion over a long period of time, as well as Brenner having been repeatedly ill with various colds and flus and not fully healing over a several month period.

Brenner was allowed to leave the hospital finally on Thursday, March 14th. His ejection fraction was up to 23%, he had lost thirty six pounds of fluid since being admitted, and his heart was responding well to the medications. While Brenner will now be a cardiac heart patient for the rest of his life, the medical team at Swedish is confident in his recovery, and that with ongoing cardiac rehab, a detailed medication regimen, and even more strict improvements to Brenner's already health conscious lifestyle, he should be able to keep his heart healthy and regain cardiovascular strength.

Brenner is a loving husband and a devoted dad to two middle school aged daughters. Brenner's team at Valley Electric and his crew have been absolutely amazing in their attentive support during his two weeks away from work. However, Brenner's wife also missed two weeks of work while staying with him morning until night in the hospital, and then caring for him full time during his week recovering at home.They are already receiving bills for what can only be anticipated to end up being very significant medical expenses, and have months more of follow up appointments for ongoing bloodwork, scans, cardiac rehab, and clinic appointments.

The Andersons are a loving, giving family who are known for their kindness and effort in helping whomever they are able. Brenner is a valued foreman and colleague with Valley Electric who has cultivated a reputation for incredible work ethic and a commitment to the IBEW brotherhood in his 12+ years in the union.