Support A New Heart for Brandon Blethen

Please help make a difference in the lives of the Blethens, as Brandon awaits a lifesaving heart transplant. And right now, they need your help.

In 2021, Brandon suffered his first cardiac arrest while at work, resulting in the implantation of an ICD (a cardiac defibrillator). He had extensive biopsies and tests to determine the cause of these heart events in an otherwise healthy, strong man. He was diagnosed with a rare heart defect: Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC), a genetic disease of the heart muscle.

With ARVC, fibrous tissue replaces normal heart muscle and interrupts normal electrical signals in the heart. While some can live with this condition under the protection of an ICD, in Brandon’s case, it continues to cause irregular and potentially life-threatening heart rhythms and his heart has continued to quickly decline over time and he needs a heart transplant in the future.

On April 9, 2023 while battling a case of Flu A that had gone through the Blethen household, Brandon received the first shock from his ICD to get his heart back into rhythm. The ambulance was called. He was quickly transferred to Tufts, where his specialist cardiac team are familiar with his case. They assessed him and decided to schedule him for an ablation at the end of May, when he was expected to have fully recovered from the flu, and he was sent home after a brief stay in the hospital.

ARVC is genetic, unrelenting, and doesn’t care if you’re recovering from the flu. Brandon had three more trips to the ER until the decision was made to transfer him to Tufts again, where he has been since April 23, 2023. During his two 10+ hour ablation surgeries, the doctors discovered that half of the exterior of his heart was covered in scar tissue. Critically, one of the key areas that his doctor believes is at the root of his arrhythmias is too close to his carotid artery. The doctor was unable to complete the ablation in that area. Following his second ablation surgery, Brandon suffered a small stroke due to two blood clots. The medical team at Tufts acted quickly; they know Brandon is a fighter, and he has recovered fully from the stroke.

While this road has already been long, this journey is going to be longer: Brandon will be added to the heart transplant list this week at a level 2 status (out of 6). Despite the ablations and medication to keep his heart beating normally, he has continued to have significant arrhythmias and the Tufts medical team will attempt another ablation next week. If successful, he may be able to safely go home to gain some energy while he waits for this life-changing surgery (at that point he'd be a level 6 status). If unsuccessful, he’ll remain in the hospital until he receives the gift of a new donor heart. This, possibly more than anything, is heartbreaking to him. He wants to be home, where he knows healing comes from the sound of his girls laughing, and the smell of cooking from their warm kitchen. He wants to see the ocean, take his daughters fishing at the pond, and spend time with friends and family, who always look forward to Chef Brando’s BBQ and homemade ravioli, the recipe he learned from his mother.

Please, do what you can to support Brandon and his incredible family.

Brandon and his family are New Englanders through-and-through. A lifetime resident of Kittery, Brandon has shared his passion and commitment to creating great dining experiences at many of the Seacoast's most beloved restaurants. Brandon has made lifelong professional and personal friendships with locals and visitors alike. His mission as a chef has always been to celebrate the Seacoast and the people who make their living from sea to farm to table and the wider community. In fact, if you've eaten seafood in Kittery, York, or Portsmouth over the last 20+ years, it’s likely that Chef Brandon was involved.

This is a family who endlessly seeks ways to make the world around them a little brighter, from their own backyard to supporting those around them. Whitney was instrumental in getting the @seacoastfridge established in Kittery to combat food insecurity. She and Brandon have also been active volunteers and supporters of countless organizations throughout the seacoast. Community is everything to them and they are indeed so grateful for theirs, and all of the people who are supporting and loving them during this challenging time.

The care Brandon is receiving at Tufts is exceptional. The cost of care is extraordinary. Whitney started a new job last fall with a non-profit, where she continues to work to ensure food security for children and families. The organization and her team have been very supportive, adjusting her schedule so she can keep the family insurance and still commute the 60 miles to Boston almost daily to be with Brandon. With the unwavering support of Brandon’s sister Deb, their friends and family, she’s been working from the hospital and at times staying nearby, in order to remain close and still maintain the family's insurance coverage and financial commitments. Brandon faces an uncertain time waiting, and if he’s gifted a new heart, he will have a long recovery, lifelong daily medications, and all of the associated costs to maintain his health. This is a family of givers. They care so deeply for their community and in turn, we want to do anything we can to ease their financial burden during this turbulent time.

Brandon needs a new heart. It will love harder and stronger because it will carry the muscle memory of so very many who have and will continue to love it, and it will mean Brandon has more time with his family and friends, in the seacoast community that he calls home.

If you are able to give, we are grateful for any amount. If you're able to share this story, we appreciate it. To learn more about organ donation, or to consider becoming a donor: Organ Donation FAQ