Home Sweet Home Update: February 1, 2025

Hi All -

Ben's sister Kate here.

After two weeks "on the road", Ben is HOME. Last weekend he moved from the ICU to a rehabilitation facility. Once settled in his new digs, he and Tiffany took the opportunity to soak up some sun. It had been 10 days since he'd been outside, and boy did it feel nice to sit and chat with his misses in the fresh air, untethered from machines, and in his own clothes! After a few days at that fine establishment, and a number of exams to determine where everything stands health wise, he was given the all clear to return home! Tiffany shared a video of him walking himself out of the facility. Happy tears filled my eyes, in awe of the recovery he has made.

While home and feeling better, Ben has been instructed to take it easy for a bit. He has a new team of doctors who plan to monitor his progress and well-being closely for the next year.

It's been a strange transition for us Hedlunds who were there for the first week, and are now home, on the other side of the country. I imagine we aren't the only ones that feel this way. Ben, Tiffany, Evan, Archer, and Holden have people all over the country, world even, who have stepped up to show their support. The love that surrounds them is palpable. Thank you for being a part of their community, for extending your love and support in a myriad of ways.

As the crew begins to reaclimate, your support is still welcomed! Delivering a meal if your local, or gift card if you're not, will help to nourish this crew while relieving Tiffany of a to-do. In Ben's words, "Hi everybody. I don’t ask for help me. I’m asking for Tiffany and our boys. The meals we have had so far have helped so much. Tiffany has been an absolute superstar but I can tell she is running on fumes."

The GoFundMe has reached just over $12k! As they'll both be out of work for the next month, and anticipate some hefty medical bills, your contributions have and will continue to make a significant impact.

Sending a smile is another heartfelt way to show your support. Do you know a cheesy joke you think they'd like to hear? Send it along! Maybe all of this has you reminiscing about days gone by, digging through pictures, and chuckling about whatever shenanigans you and Ben or Tiffany got into. Make a copy and send it along with your favorite memory!

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for all the love and support you've shown thus far. Our dad likes to say, "Your health is your wealth." I'd like to edit this to include 'community'. "Your health and community are the truest riches in life." None of can go at this on our own, and isn't that a beautiful thing?

Much love and appreciation,

Kate

GOOD NEWS UPDATE: January 20, 2025, 9:50am

Hey everyone! This is Seth Boyack (Ben's pal and bandmate in New Chums) and I am providing this update here, so that his family can put their focus entirely on Ben right now.

We are excited to report that Benji is making great progress! Every single day he is getting stronger and stronger. His intubation tube has been removed, he has opened his eyes, and he is very carefully and cautiously "waking up". I got to hear his voice for a few seconds today (over the phone) and I reminded him that he better be on-time to band practice tomorrow night ;)

Ben isn't one to ask for help. In fact, the last thing he wants to do is inconvenience anyone at his expense but, funny enough, he's always willing to help everyone else whenever he gets the chance.

So, I'm going to go ahead and ask for help for him, because Benji is going to need a lot of love and support as he continues to recover.

That said, if you are able to contribute to this fund, any little bit would be so appreciated.

I have asked Kate (Ben's sister) to raise the goal to $20k, in hopes that finances are one less thing to worry about right now.

On a day like today, I am reminded that life is a gift and I am so grateful Ben is still here with us!

~ Seth

On Tuesday night, January 14, 2025, Ben was at band practice with the New Chums. After not feeling well, his bandmate Seth drove him home. When he got home, he shared with his fiancé Tiffany that he was feeling faint, had some pain in his shoulder and heaviness in his chest. Thinking it was an oncoming asthma attack, he grabbed his inhaler. This provided some relief, but shortly thereafter he fainted and fell to the floor. Tiffany immediately called 911. While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, she began chest compressions as his breathing had become irregular. The police arrived, continuing CPR until the ambulance crew arrived.

Ben was brought to Mercy Gilbert where it was determined he had a heart attack. Doctors discovered that he had 100% blockage of the LAD (left anterior descending artery). The artery was cleared and two stents were placed through his arm. In the midst of this, he coded twice and was successfully revived. Given the trauma to his heart, it was struggling to work on its own. An Impella device was implanted. While it helped a bit, his body needed further support. Given this need, he was transferred to Chandler Regional Medical Center where they have an incredible cardiac division and access to an ECMO machine. What is ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation)? It's a form of life support for people with life-threatening illness or injury that affects the function of their heart or lungs. This treatment has been helping him breathe and circulate his blood. His liver and kidneys also sustained some trauma. These machines allowed his organs a chance to recuperate, and to much success.

While on the ECMO machine Ben's been sedated. There have been at least two nurses in his room at all times offering constant monitoring of the different machines and medications. Yesterday, Thursday, they performed an internal echocardiogram while simultaneously reducing the involvement of this ECMO machine. In this process, they were hoping to see if his heart would be able to operate on it's own. His medical team was hoping for 30% operation, and with great relief, it was able to operate at 65%! They returned the machine to full support to continue to allow his heart to recuperate.

Towards the end of the day yesterday his medical team began to reduce the sedation medication. After this we began to see some small movements in with his arms/hands. There was also some pupil dilation in response to the nurses shining a flashlight in his eyes. There's some concern regarding cognitive function given the oxygen 10-15 minute depravation between the time that he fainted until the time the ambulance staff was able to get him attached to oxygen.

This morning they repeated the internal echocardiogram to determine his heart strength. The plan was if all looked good they could take him off the ECMO machine. Well, everything looked good and they were able to do just that! He is still connected to the ventilator and will be for another 3-4 days. The nurses placed a feeding tube this afternoon, allowing him to 'eat' for the first time since Tuesday.

There's a long road ahead, but our guy Ben has made great strides the past couple of days. We remain hopeful, and feel an incredible amount of gratitude to every one who has reached out, included him/us in your prayers, and has offered your love and support. We've decorated his room with pictures and drawings. In an effort to bridge the financial gap caused by his inability to work, we've created this page. Should you feel inclined to show your support in this way, we would be most grateful.

Much love and gratitude,

The Families of Ben, Tiffany, & Evan