On February 28th, Brittany began experiencing severe abdominal pain that landed her in the ER twice over the course of a few days, only to be sent home both times without a clear diagnosis. When the pain became unbearable and the first hospital still had no answers, Justin trusted his gut, put her in the car, and drove her to Hartford Hospital instead. That decision likely saved her life. Surgeons discovered a perforated large bowel that had filled and ruptured her appendix, releasing over a liter of fluid into her abdomen. By the time they got her into the OR, the damage required opening her entire abdomen to check for additional tears and flush her organs. Brittany will be the first to tell you she was absolutely not fine. She was in agony. But between a hospital that missed it twice and a situation that was quietly becoming life threatening, it was Justin saying “f*** it, we are going to a different hospital right now” that made all the difference. We do not take lightly how close this came to a very different story.

She is home now, recovering with a drainage tube still in place and a couple of months of healing ahead of her. If you know Brittany, you know she does not sit still. She is the queen bee of the hive and an energizer bunny on Red Bull. With the salon and everything that comes with it, the financial weight of an extended recovery is very real for them. If you have ever sat in her chair, been touched by her energy, or just loved her from afar, now is the chance to give a little of that back. Every contribution helps her focus on healing instead of stressing about the rest. The hive shows up for its queen. Thank you for being here.