Help Heath Braun and Family
Donation protected
Parents watch our kids grow and change. Children go to classes, make friends, and begin to experience a life outside of home and school. Or at least they should. Our family is friends with a boy whose childhood memories and independence have been stripped away from him.
We have been a part of identical twin boys, Heath and Hunter Braun’s life for over 10 years. We met the Braun’s at our temple in White Meadow Lake and spent a lot of time with them. Our twins are a few years older than the boys but the four always got along and Heath and Hunter looked up to our kids. It was always enjoyable to watch them together. Heath and I had a special bond and he always told my wife, Jen, that she was the “wrong Sislin” because he wanted to see and joke around with me. One day one of the boys suddenly and drastically changed.
The Heath Braun I knew and had joked with had suddenly disappeared. The curious, funny and energetic boy that played with his mini-skateboard, while telling me jokes can no longer walk, talk, has complex anxieties, and decreasing mental capabilities. He has become a shell of the child I had known.
The Braun family only rarely leaves the confines of their home, as Heath is not able to handle the challenges he faces outside. After many visits to medical professionals, they have yet to find a treatment which has been effective for Heath. Heath has been diagnosed with autoimmune Lyme Encephalopathy (inflammation of the brain). Mike Braun, Heath's father, has described in his own words that "Heath's condition is as if his body is attacking his own brain. It is as if his brain is on fire."
The family is still trying to find a way forward, a way to restore their son’s health and quality of life. Recently a renowned neurologist specializing in Lyme disease diagnosed Heath with the co-infections(Bartonella and Babesia) which makes it more complicated to treat. Heath's current treatments have become a financial burden to the Braun's. Giving up on Heath is not an option to us! In addition to his ongoing treatments the specialist is recommending future appointments which are $500.00 to $2500.00 per visit, the medicines and lab work estimated at $150.00 to $300.00 per month and the possible need for hyperbaric therapy which is $250.00 to $450.00 per session. The doctor is also suggesting plasmapheresis for 5 sessions which can cost up to $10,000. This doesn't include loss of income due to doctor's appointments and work loss caring for Heath. These future exorbitant costs in addition to the expenses which have been ongoing for over 5 years now are way beyond their financial capabilities. This illness has led to mounting medical costs and debt for the Braun Family. Much of Heath's treatments are not covered by insurance and his medical expenses are exorbitant, which is why we are setting up this Go-Fund Me Campaign. Our hopes with this campaign is that we can do whatever we can to alleviate even just a little of the burden. Any amount you can give will be appreciated and no amount is too small.
I am also asking for those in our community to share this story with others and to help support this family. I hope that by sharing Heath and the family’s story, and giving voice to their heartache, it may help them in some way with their day-to-day struggles.
We have been a part of identical twin boys, Heath and Hunter Braun’s life for over 10 years. We met the Braun’s at our temple in White Meadow Lake and spent a lot of time with them. Our twins are a few years older than the boys but the four always got along and Heath and Hunter looked up to our kids. It was always enjoyable to watch them together. Heath and I had a special bond and he always told my wife, Jen, that she was the “wrong Sislin” because he wanted to see and joke around with me. One day one of the boys suddenly and drastically changed.
The Heath Braun I knew and had joked with had suddenly disappeared. The curious, funny and energetic boy that played with his mini-skateboard, while telling me jokes can no longer walk, talk, has complex anxieties, and decreasing mental capabilities. He has become a shell of the child I had known.
The Braun family only rarely leaves the confines of their home, as Heath is not able to handle the challenges he faces outside. After many visits to medical professionals, they have yet to find a treatment which has been effective for Heath. Heath has been diagnosed with autoimmune Lyme Encephalopathy (inflammation of the brain). Mike Braun, Heath's father, has described in his own words that "Heath's condition is as if his body is attacking his own brain. It is as if his brain is on fire."
The family is still trying to find a way forward, a way to restore their son’s health and quality of life. Recently a renowned neurologist specializing in Lyme disease diagnosed Heath with the co-infections(Bartonella and Babesia) which makes it more complicated to treat. Heath's current treatments have become a financial burden to the Braun's. Giving up on Heath is not an option to us! In addition to his ongoing treatments the specialist is recommending future appointments which are $500.00 to $2500.00 per visit, the medicines and lab work estimated at $150.00 to $300.00 per month and the possible need for hyperbaric therapy which is $250.00 to $450.00 per session. The doctor is also suggesting plasmapheresis for 5 sessions which can cost up to $10,000. This doesn't include loss of income due to doctor's appointments and work loss caring for Heath. These future exorbitant costs in addition to the expenses which have been ongoing for over 5 years now are way beyond their financial capabilities. This illness has led to mounting medical costs and debt for the Braun Family. Much of Heath's treatments are not covered by insurance and his medical expenses are exorbitant, which is why we are setting up this Go-Fund Me Campaign. Our hopes with this campaign is that we can do whatever we can to alleviate even just a little of the burden. Any amount you can give will be appreciated and no amount is too small.
I am also asking for those in our community to share this story with others and to help support this family. I hope that by sharing Heath and the family’s story, and giving voice to their heartache, it may help them in some way with their day-to-day struggles.
Organizer and beneficiary
Howard Sislin
Organizer
Rockaway, NJ
Michael Braun
Beneficiary