July 26: Almost two months out of the original ER visits that landed Danny on a ventilator and dialysis, he had had a lot of ups and downs. He hit out of the hospital in two weeks faster than anyone could imagine. Since then he has been back in the hospital twice. Once a couple of weeks ago and then again yesterday. Each times leads to a few days in the hospital. He continues to improve each day and unfortunately each time Joslyn has a plan to return to work, there is a set back and she does what a strong partner does and takes care of supports. Any help is greatly appreciated. 

On June 1st, our lives changed in an instant.

My brother-in-law, Danny Powell, was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and admitted to the ICU with acute pancreatitis, which quickly became a serious, life-threatening medical emergency. He was sedated and placed on a ventilator for five days while his body battled multiple complications.

As of June 7th, Danny is finally off the ventilator, but he remains on a feeding tube, unable to eat or drink on his own. He’s still very confused and disoriented, and his recovery journey will be long and difficult.

Joslyn Hasn’t Left His Side

His wife—my sister, Joslyn Powell—has been by his side 24/7 since day one.

She’s been sleeping on a couch at the hospital, living out of a bag at Vanderbilt while caring for her husband, communicating with doctors, and supporting Danny every step of the way. Their home is over an hour away, and Joslyn’s paid time off runs out this week. With Danny unable to work and Joslyn at the hospital full-time, their financial situation is growing more uncertain by the day.

They also have three beloved dogs at home who haven’t seen their people in over a week. I flew in earlier this week to help care for two of their dogs and manage things at the house and our mom took the other dog to her house because he is deaf and blind. We are doing this so Joslyn can stay with Danny where she’s needed most.

Why We're Asking for Help

This is a moment where community support can make all the difference. We’re asking for donations to help Joslyn and Danny cover:

* Lost income from time off work

* Daily expenses at the hospital (parking, food, etc.)

* Care for their dogs and home while they’re at Vanderbilt

* Upcoming medical and recovery costs

Every Dollar—and Every Prayer—Matters

If you’re able to give anything at all, please know that every single dollar helps relieve some of the stress and allows Joslyn and Danny to focus on healing. And if you can’t give, please consider sharing this with your community and sending a prayer their way.

From the bottom of our hearts—thank you for your kindness and support during this incredibly hard time.

With deep gratitude,

Jameson Hannaman