Greg & Julie Perry

Greg and Julie Perry are two of the finest people I know. They are always the first to step forward and help friends & neighbors, and since most everyone they meet becomes a friend, they are some very active people.

Last night, after driving out to Washington for his job, Greg woke up in the middle of the night with terrible chest pain and no voluntary leg movement. He managed to call Julie and she managed to pinpoint his location and get an emergency response team there in just 14 minutes. Greg suffered a type A aortic dissection- In layman’s terms that is a torn aorta, massive internal bleeding and hemorrhaging.

This is how Julie explained it:

“Update on Greg R. Perry: I have been overwhelmed with volunteers who want to help .. and I am so grateful. My sister, Jen, and our friend, Margaret are coordinating people who want to help in some way.

“We have a good friend in Seattle close to Greg right now that is handling his personal effects, our car, and if needed can get to the hospital now. The hospital is concerned about infection and is only allowing minimal visitation from immediate family. As Greg not currently conscious, we ask that people send their well wishes and allow the ICU staff to do their job unimpeded, as Greg will not be in any shape to have visitors for some time yet.

“He is still under sedation, and they have left his chest open and covered with a sterile dressing because he's still bleeding from the soft tissues around his aorta and they may have to take him back in the OR.

“Aortic dissection, Type A. Destruction and repair of:

Aortic root, entire aortic arch with damage to the branches to the head, aortic valve, entire ascending aorta.

“All have been repaired except the distal aortic arch will need a stent in a future procedure.

“If all goes perfectly and he stops bleeding, he'll remain sedated for up to 4 more days, then remain in the ICU another day or so, then to hospital for another 14 days, and a rehab hospital before he is well enough to travel home; it is likely that it will be at the very least a month, and probably longer, before Greg can leave Seattle to be closer to his family. There is much uncertainty right now, and I appreciate those withholding calling so that the hospital can get through to me when needed. This is going to be a long haul thing; I'll get to Seattle when it is best for Greg for me to be there.”

As most of you know, Greg is a corrosion engineer who travels extensively for work. Julie and her sons maintain the farm at home. This fundraiser is to help them with living expenses and eventually travel for Julie to Seattle while Greg is unable to work or transfer closer to home.

In addition to the GoFundMe campaign, there have been many offers of help with the farm work. Julie and Greg have a long history of welcoming people to their farm and educating people about how farms run. Understandably, right now, offers of help are greatly appreciated, but as Julie will have her hands full, she won’t be able to educate, assist, and supervise as she normally would, so we do request understanding that we will only be able to accept offers for farm labor from local, experienced farmers at this time.

I am coordinating the volunteer farming group separately from this fundraiser and will keep everyone posted on how things are progressing. If you want to contact me about helping this way, please contact me through this site and I’ll give you my cell number.

The Perrys are facing a long recovery period with Greg possibly not coming back to Pennsylvania for a lengthy time because of treatment, additional procedures, and rehab. With inflation affecting travel costs, and everything else right now, they could really use your help.

Please consider donating and sharing this link. I will be updating every day and so will Jen and Julie, so you can check in on Greg’s progress and hear what is happening around the farm.

Thank you all again for your kindness, understanding, and support. We all look forward to the day when Greg is back to inspecting pipes and telling the story of his amazing scar!