Brandon’s Medical and Rehabilitation Fund
Don protégé
Updated 9/2022 with upcoming surgery information! Brandon needs your continued prayers and support!
As so many close to Brandon and Amy Birk already know, on Friday May 27th Brandon suffered from a substantial stoke. He woke up feeling unwell which led to an ambulance rushing him to Des Moines Mercy Hospital. Immediate tests showed Brandon was suffering from a substantial stroke at the young age of 36. Doctors rushed him to surgery where he underwent a Thrombectomy. The goal of the surgery was to help blood flow back to his brain. Unfortunately, the surgery was unsuccessful. A piece of an artery in Brandon’s neck had broken lose, blocking the blood flow.
Then on Saturday, May 28th, Brandon woke up with a bad headache and low pulse. After more immediate testing, doctors discovered severe swelling around his brain. Knowing that there was more swelling to come, Brandon underwent an emergency craniectomy. Doctors removed a large portion of his skull to allow room for further swelling.
Brandon was hospitalized for 22 days. After hospitalization, he was blessed to receive a spot at On With Life, Ankeny, a rehabilitation center that specializes in caring for people who have suffered from Traumatic Brain Injury. The care they provided him was top notch, and Brandon gained strength each day with his speech and mobility. After 60 days there, insurance would no longer pay for him to stay. So, Brandon moved back home with Amy and Colton in midAugust. He continues to receive PT, OT, and Speech at On With Life in an out-patient format. In the mean time, Amy and Brandon work together as a team from home to continue his therapy sessions.
On Monday, September 26th (Brandon and Amy’s Anniversary) Brandon will undergo another major surgery. He will have a cranioplasty. Brandon’s neurosurgeon will lift his scalp and restore the contour of his skull with a custom synthetic bone plate. Brandon will spend some more time in the Neuro ICU for close monitoring after the surgery next week.
Please continue to keep Brandon, and Amy, and Colton in your thoughts and prayers. We have been moved to tears by the outpouring of love and support from our friends, family, and even strangers thus far! We cannot begin to thank each person enough! Brandon’s medical bills are exorbitant. With both Amy and Brandon unable to consistently work at this time, if you are inclined, any financial help will go directly to paying off the bills and paying for his upcoming extensive surgery.
THANK YOU,
The Peters and Birk families
If you would like to follow along with Brandon’s journey please visit-
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/brandon4
As so many close to Brandon and Amy Birk already know, on Friday May 27th Brandon suffered from a substantial stoke. He woke up feeling unwell which led to an ambulance rushing him to Des Moines Mercy Hospital. Immediate tests showed Brandon was suffering from a substantial stroke at the young age of 36. Doctors rushed him to surgery where he underwent a Thrombectomy. The goal of the surgery was to help blood flow back to his brain. Unfortunately, the surgery was unsuccessful. A piece of an artery in Brandon’s neck had broken lose, blocking the blood flow.
Then on Saturday, May 28th, Brandon woke up with a bad headache and low pulse. After more immediate testing, doctors discovered severe swelling around his brain. Knowing that there was more swelling to come, Brandon underwent an emergency craniectomy. Doctors removed a large portion of his skull to allow room for further swelling.
Brandon was hospitalized for 22 days. After hospitalization, he was blessed to receive a spot at On With Life, Ankeny, a rehabilitation center that specializes in caring for people who have suffered from Traumatic Brain Injury. The care they provided him was top notch, and Brandon gained strength each day with his speech and mobility. After 60 days there, insurance would no longer pay for him to stay. So, Brandon moved back home with Amy and Colton in midAugust. He continues to receive PT, OT, and Speech at On With Life in an out-patient format. In the mean time, Amy and Brandon work together as a team from home to continue his therapy sessions.
On Monday, September 26th (Brandon and Amy’s Anniversary) Brandon will undergo another major surgery. He will have a cranioplasty. Brandon’s neurosurgeon will lift his scalp and restore the contour of his skull with a custom synthetic bone plate. Brandon will spend some more time in the Neuro ICU for close monitoring after the surgery next week.
Please continue to keep Brandon, and Amy, and Colton in your thoughts and prayers. We have been moved to tears by the outpouring of love and support from our friends, family, and even strangers thus far! We cannot begin to thank each person enough! Brandon’s medical bills are exorbitant. With both Amy and Brandon unable to consistently work at this time, if you are inclined, any financial help will go directly to paying off the bills and paying for his upcoming extensive surgery.
THANK YOU,
The Peters and Birk families
If you would like to follow along with Brandon’s journey please visit-
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/brandon4
Organisateur et bénéficiaire
Kelly Beierschmitt
Organisateur
Ankeny, IA
Amy Birk
Bénéficiaire