Braden Bell is a 37-year-old married father of two from Tillamook, Oregon. On Sunday, June 12, 2016, Braden collapsed in his home with pain from his jaw down through his torso. His wife, Karla, rushed him to the emergency room at Tillamook Regional Medical Center where an EKG and a CAT scan were done. He was immediately life flighted to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland where a team of cardiac specialists was standing by to perform emergency open-heart surgery.
Braden was suffering from a thoracic aortic aneurysm to his aortic root valve. This condition was the result of a genetic disorder, which affects the body’s connective soft tissues. Braden has always suffered extremely poor vision due to his genetic disorder, which also affects the connective tissues holding the eyes’ lenses in place.
Braden had two surgeries to replace his aortic valve and reinforce the arch of his aorta, which was weakened and compromised. He was kept in a medically induced coma for two days in between surgeries. After the second surgery his chest cavity was closed and he was allowed to wake up.
Braden and Karla own and operate a commercial janitorial business here in Tillamook County. The two of them are extremely hard working people who do all the work themselves. Braden is not able even to begin cardiac rehabilitation for 12 weeks, and Karla is doing the best she can to keep the business going, while caring for Braden and their two daughters, Braelyn and Allison.
As owners of a small business, Braden and his wife do not qualify for any low-cost insurance programs. Nor could they afford the exorbitant cost of private health insurance. They are one of those unfortunate families these days who find themselves in “the middle.”
Expenses for which help is needed include medication; travel to doctor visits; future doctor and hospital appointments and tests, physical therapy, and an echocardiogram every six months, which alone is over $2,000.00. While every effort is being made to look for financial resources, it will be a long time until Braden can work and the continued medical costs will place a hardship on the family. Total medical costs ALONE will go to probably half a million dollars.
The Bells and their business have done whatever they could to help others when there was a need. They are not ones to ask for help. However, as their family and friends we now ask that you contribute whatever amount you can spare to help them.
Whatever anyone can do to help out can be the net to pull up Braden's fight for the biggest fish he has ever caught.
Braden was suffering from a thoracic aortic aneurysm to his aortic root valve. This condition was the result of a genetic disorder, which affects the body’s connective soft tissues. Braden has always suffered extremely poor vision due to his genetic disorder, which also affects the connective tissues holding the eyes’ lenses in place.
Braden had two surgeries to replace his aortic valve and reinforce the arch of his aorta, which was weakened and compromised. He was kept in a medically induced coma for two days in between surgeries. After the second surgery his chest cavity was closed and he was allowed to wake up.
Braden and Karla own and operate a commercial janitorial business here in Tillamook County. The two of them are extremely hard working people who do all the work themselves. Braden is not able even to begin cardiac rehabilitation for 12 weeks, and Karla is doing the best she can to keep the business going, while caring for Braden and their two daughters, Braelyn and Allison.
As owners of a small business, Braden and his wife do not qualify for any low-cost insurance programs. Nor could they afford the exorbitant cost of private health insurance. They are one of those unfortunate families these days who find themselves in “the middle.”
Expenses for which help is needed include medication; travel to doctor visits; future doctor and hospital appointments and tests, physical therapy, and an echocardiogram every six months, which alone is over $2,000.00. While every effort is being made to look for financial resources, it will be a long time until Braden can work and the continued medical costs will place a hardship on the family. Total medical costs ALONE will go to probably half a million dollars.
The Bells and their business have done whatever they could to help others when there was a need. They are not ones to ask for help. However, as their family and friends we now ask that you contribute whatever amount you can spare to help them.
Whatever anyone can do to help out can be the net to pull up Braden's fight for the biggest fish he has ever caught.
Organizer and beneficiary
Karla F Bell
Beneficiary