Happy holidays, my name is Abby, Bryan’s daughter. My brother Colby and I are trying to raise money for our dad, because he is in need of a shunt replacement surgery. In 2012, he was diagnosed with an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in his brain. This has caused him to have an excess of cerebrospinal fluid in his head due to an abnormal connection between arteries & veins. If an AVM in someone’s brain ruptures, it can cause bleeding in the brain, stroke, or brain damage. Brain AVM’s occur in less than 1% of the population, thus it is a very costly issue to have. This AVM has caused many ongoing problems within his daily life such as intense migraines, issues moving the left side of his body, difficulty lifting heavy objects & just causing intense discomfort overall. A shunt was put in many years ago to help drain the cerebrospinal fluid & redirect it to another location in his body where it can be reabsorbed.
As of now, his shunt is due to be replaced as it’s struggling to continue to get the job done. But, due to how rare his diagnosis is, the cost of surgery without insurance is very out of reach with the combination of past medical bills as well as every day bills. Our dad has done so much for us as well as for his community and friends. He is always stepping in to help others in need before himself, and we want to try to take some of this burden off of his hands if we can (with help from others).
Bryan is an avid outdoorsman who has had a love for keeping himself busy with life/work for as long as we can remember. He’s been an independent contractor all of his life working as a very talented & hard working woodworker/contractor. He currently resides in Corvallis, Montana & spends most of his time cooking fabulous meals with friends, fly fishing, enjoying Saturdays watching his Washington Huskies, as well as creating some pretty incredible wood working projects.
We understand the number is very large, and all that we ask is if you’re feeling inspired to give, we would be eternally grateful! Even just a share on your story would be much appreciated if you’re not able to help! Our dad has no clue we have created this page, and we’d like to keep it that way. He in no way would accept the help if he knew we had created this page. Funds will be used to go towards a portion of the surgery, as this number is only about 1/4 of the total costs for medical bills as well as for the shunt itself.
If you’ve made it this far, thank you so much & know we truly appreciate you taking the time to read a little bit about our favorite guy. We want to see him continue to do the things he loves without any issues for as long as we can. Much love and thank you again!