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Hello, my name is Jay Rahr and I am raising emergency medical expense funds for my sister Brandy Rahr Johnson.
On about July 25th, 2021 Brandy started to notice unexplained bruising on her body in random places. She was not to concerned the first two days because she figured it was just a bruise and no big deal.
After a couple more days of waking up to bruising anywhere from her arms, legs, ankles, back, and stomach she decided it was time to see a doctor in Dickinson,ND.
My sister was also diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer on Christmas Eve of 2020 and a complete skin excision was preformed on January 8th 2021, so this was also on the back of her mind going into this unexplained bruising. She sees a dermatologist every 3 months for the next 5 years for melanoma skin checks.
June 30th, 2021 Brandy had met with her doctor and had her labs drawn. Her platelets went from her normal range of 280,000 to 50,000. Normal platelets levels are 140,000 to 400,000.
Her hemaglobin, hemocrit, and red blood count was all well below average. This causes concern for possible anemia. Her iron, folic and b12 was checked and all fell into the normal range. She is not anemic.
She returned in 3 days for CBC again. This time her platelet levels were at 88,000 and her other levels stayed relatively the same but never reaching normal levels.
Her doctor sent a referral to Bismarck ND to see a specialist in Oncology/Hematology. She would not be seen until September 15th, 2021.
August 7th, 2021 Brandy developed a severe allergic reaction. Her face neck and arms developed hives and redness.. by mid afternoon her lips and eyes started to swell.
She went to the ER in Dickinson.
She was treated and released but with out cause or reason for this.
August 9th, 2021 turned into a day she never imagined. She was getting ready for work and began to cough up blood about 5 times. She had a little chest pain to follow but thought it was a little anxiety. She called the doctor in Dickinson and was advised to go straight to Bismarck to the emergency department.
At thE ER they ran several blood tests and did chest X-rays and a eeg.
Her platelets levels were in the 70k, the other were still maintaining just below normal.
Her D-Dimer and Troponin levels were elevated. These two test look at possibly heart issues. When they are elevated this caused them to redraw these every 2 hours, if they continue to double this is a sign of a heart attack.
Her first level was .015, then .030, then .058 and finally .043
She was admitted into the oncology floor and more test were to be performed over the next couple weeks.
Tuesday the 10th she had a echocardiogram.
Tuesday afternoon a cardiologist came and told her that she had indeed had a type 2 myocardial infarction heart attack. Due to low platelets a full heart work up can not be preformed at this time. She will have further testing in the future to address her heart.
Early Wednesday Morning the 11th Brandy woke up to use the restroom. She had taken a few sips of water before returning to bed. She immediately experienced severe abdominal pressure up high under her ribs.
A cat scan was ordered of her pelvic and abdominal area. They said it appeared she to have gall stones in her gall bladder. A ultra sound of the gall bladder was performed.
This showed infection of the gall bladder, a pus pocket the size of a golf ball between her liver and Gall bladder along with inflammation of the entire abdominal lining that protects your inside organs.
A surgeon was brought on board. Her platelets were still to low to do surgery. The surgeon agreed to remove the gall bladder on Friday August 13th pending platelet level increases. They did rise to 77K by Friday and her gallbladder was removed.
Saturday the 14th her platelets dropped from 77K to 50K.
Sunday the 15th her platelets went down a little to 49k
By Sunday night they were up to 54K
And on Monday the 16th they were sitting at 59K.
Brandy went home on The 16th .
On Thursday the 19th Labs were drawn again. When she left the hospital on the 16th her platelets were 59K and todays labs tanked to 13K.
Her oncologist team had told her that often below 20k they will transfuse platelets and at anything less then 10k you have a increased chance of spontaneous internal bleeding resulting in death.
Mike and Brandy made the trip back to Bismarck ER and a platelet transfusion was done.
She was released home to go home about midnight as this brought her levels up to 50k.
Saturday morning the 21st standing order labs were drawn. Her platelets fell yet again to 27K. A doctor was notified and she was sent to Bismarck again.
She is now being monitored in the hospital as her condition is not good enough to go back home.
Brandy did have a ventricular tachycardia episode Saturday night but will still not be able to have a complete work up on her heart for the type 2 heart attack and this episode of VT until her platelets are at a healthy and steady level.
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On about July 25th, 2021 Brandy started to notice unexplained bruising on her body in random places. She was not to concerned the first two days because she figured it was just a bruise and no big deal.
After a couple more days of waking up to bruising anywhere from her arms, legs, ankles, back, and stomach she decided it was time to see a doctor in Dickinson,ND.
My sister was also diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer on Christmas Eve of 2020 and a complete skin excision was preformed on January 8th 2021, so this was also on the back of her mind going into this unexplained bruising. She sees a dermatologist every 3 months for the next 5 years for melanoma skin checks.
June 30th, 2021 Brandy had met with her doctor and had her labs drawn. Her platelets went from her normal range of 280,000 to 50,000. Normal platelets levels are 140,000 to 400,000.
Her hemaglobin, hemocrit, and red blood count was all well below average. This causes concern for possible anemia. Her iron, folic and b12 was checked and all fell into the normal range. She is not anemic.
She returned in 3 days for CBC again. This time her platelet levels were at 88,000 and her other levels stayed relatively the same but never reaching normal levels.
Her doctor sent a referral to Bismarck ND to see a specialist in Oncology/Hematology. She would not be seen until September 15th, 2021.
August 7th, 2021 Brandy developed a severe allergic reaction. Her face neck and arms developed hives and redness.. by mid afternoon her lips and eyes started to swell.
She went to the ER in Dickinson.
She was treated and released but with out cause or reason for this.
August 9th, 2021 turned into a day she never imagined. She was getting ready for work and began to cough up blood about 5 times. She had a little chest pain to follow but thought it was a little anxiety. She called the doctor in Dickinson and was advised to go straight to Bismarck to the emergency department.
At thE ER they ran several blood tests and did chest X-rays and a eeg.
Her platelets levels were in the 70k, the other were still maintaining just below normal.
Her D-Dimer and Troponin levels were elevated. These two test look at possibly heart issues. When they are elevated this caused them to redraw these every 2 hours, if they continue to double this is a sign of a heart attack.
Her first level was .015, then .030, then .058 and finally .043
She was admitted into the oncology floor and more test were to be performed over the next couple weeks.
Tuesday the 10th she had a echocardiogram.
Tuesday afternoon a cardiologist came and told her that she had indeed had a type 2 myocardial infarction heart attack. Due to low platelets a full heart work up can not be preformed at this time. She will have further testing in the future to address her heart.
Early Wednesday Morning the 11th Brandy woke up to use the restroom. She had taken a few sips of water before returning to bed. She immediately experienced severe abdominal pressure up high under her ribs.
A cat scan was ordered of her pelvic and abdominal area. They said it appeared she to have gall stones in her gall bladder. A ultra sound of the gall bladder was performed.
This showed infection of the gall bladder, a pus pocket the size of a golf ball between her liver and Gall bladder along with inflammation of the entire abdominal lining that protects your inside organs.
A surgeon was brought on board. Her platelets were still to low to do surgery. The surgeon agreed to remove the gall bladder on Friday August 13th pending platelet level increases. They did rise to 77K by Friday and her gallbladder was removed.
Saturday the 14th her platelets dropped from 77K to 50K.
Sunday the 15th her platelets went down a little to 49k
By Sunday night they were up to 54K
And on Monday the 16th they were sitting at 59K.
Brandy went home on The 16th .
On Thursday the 19th Labs were drawn again. When she left the hospital on the 16th her platelets were 59K and todays labs tanked to 13K.
Her oncologist team had told her that often below 20k they will transfuse platelets and at anything less then 10k you have a increased chance of spontaneous internal bleeding resulting in death.
Mike and Brandy made the trip back to Bismarck ER and a platelet transfusion was done.
She was released home to go home about midnight as this brought her levels up to 50k.
Saturday morning the 21st standing order labs were drawn. Her platelets fell yet again to 27K. A doctor was notified and she was sent to Bismarck again.
She is now being monitored in the hospital as her condition is not good enough to go back home.
Brandy did have a ventricular tachycardia episode Saturday night but will still not be able to have a complete work up on her heart for the type 2 heart attack and this episode of VT until her platelets are at a healthy and steady level.
Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a fast, abnormal heart rate. It starts in your heart’s lower chambers, called the ventricles. VT is defined as 3 or more heartbeats in a row, at a rate of more than 100 beats a minute. If VT lasts for more than a few seconds at a time, it can become life-threatening. Sustained VT is when the arrhythmia lasts for more than 30 seconds, otherwise the VT is called nonsustained. The rapid heartbeat doesn't give your heart enough time to fill with blood before it contracts again. This can affect blood flow to the rest of your body.
Brandy is employed at Mavericks Saloon in Dickinson and has not been able to work since all this started. Mike and Brandy recently went out on their own with Second Nature Woodworks,LLC. Both have lost a month of wages that has really set them back with having a family to also care for.
All proceeds will be used towards medical expenses they are facing and moving forward looking for answers for Brandy’s health.
Thank you for all your support and helping to make this benefit a successful one. Even sharing this link to your own social media will help.
I want to add that Brandy and Mike have been a driving force in their community. They are committee members for the Cabin Fever Ronald McDonald House. They faithfully donate beautiful hand crafted furniture to Cabin Fever and Make A Wish.
Brandy can not say no to anyone in need. She successfully put together a medical fundraiser for her friend last October when she was dealing with cancer.
Whenever some one is selling a raffle ticket she either buys them or offers to help sell them. When other benefits are taking place she and Mike never decline donating a silent auction item.
In fact a week before she was hospitalized she read a article in her local paper about a child and his family in need. Brandy reached out to the family and sold $250 in tickets in a day. Then ended up not being able to attend the benefit due to being in the hospital. She was deeply saddened by that. Good grief that girl!
Another way to donate if you are not comfortable with online
Is below
Call in or makes checks Payable to the
Brandy Johnson Medical Benefit
C/O Western Cooperative Credit Union
290 15th ST SW
Dickinson, ND 58601
701-227-0188
Respectfully
Jay Rahr