Two weeks ago, our lives changed in ways we never expected. What began as severe abdominal pain for my husband, Brett Terrien, quickly turned into a fight for his life. He was hospitalized on July 1st, 2026, diagnosed with severe diverticulitis and a large perforation in his intestine. Brett has endured two major emergency surgeries, the most recent resulting in an ileostomy to give his body the best chance to heal. Now, as he recovers, he is also managing atrial fibrillation (a-fib), a complication from his surgery. We are deeply grateful for the incredible care Brett has received at Aurora Medical Center, and for the doctors, nurses, and staff who have kept him stable and alive.

While Brett’s body is healing, our family is facing a different kind of crisis, one that no one prepares you for. The medical bills are already accumulating, and we know there will be many more to come. Because we own two small service-based businesses, our household income has been severely impacted. If we can’t work, we can’t earn money to cover our monthly business and living expenses. We are facing ongoing costs for rent, utilities, groceries, business expenses that cannot be paused, and future medical bills that will follow us long after Brett is discharged.

We have always been proud, hardworking people who believed we could handle anything. But this is bigger than we can carry alone, and for the first time, we are humbly asking our community for financial help. If you are able to contribute, your donation, no matter the size, will go directly toward keeping our household and businesses afloat and chipping away at the mountain of medical debt ahead. Every dollar lifts a little weight off our shoulders and allows us to focus on what matters most: Brett’s healing. If you are unable to give financially, sharing this post, sending a kind message, or keeping us in your thoughts means just as much to us. We are so grateful for every prayer, every message, every encouraging text—it all holds us up. We never imagined we would be in this position, but knowing we are not alone makes all the difference. Thank you all for your love and support.