Eric Ornas and Jennifer Joslin, Ted’s brother and sister-in-law are starting a GOFUNDME to help Ted and Jill (Brothen) Ornas with the many expenses that they incurred when Ted had a life-threatening aortic dissection* on January 29,2024.

An aortic dissection is a rupture of the aorta, the largest vein feeding the heart. Most people who suffer this never survive to make it to the hospital. Luckily Ted was able to call 911 before he collapsed. He was admitted to Mayo Hospital Mankato where his heart stopped beating twice. He was immediately airlifted to the main Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester for emergency open heart surgery. Ted was in surgery before Jill and Teddy even got there. After a terrifying and interminable wait, the surgery lasted 6 hours, the doctors came out with cautiously good news. The surgery had been a success and the surgeons had replaced the ruptured section of the aorta.

Jill, Teddy and Ted’s brother Eric from California (who’d arrived the night of the surgery) spent every waking hour with Ted, even though he was barely conscious. Jill, Teddy and Eric stayed by his side every day at the hospital. In total, Ted ended up spending almost three weeks in the hospital, including eight days in the ICU, followed by time in an intensive cardiac unit and a rehabilitation facility on the Mayo Campus. While the Doctors were amazed at the strides Ted was making after such major open heart surgery. We all know Ted’s legendary stubbornness, so we expected nothing less! Ted is home now recuperating and pursuing a daily rehabilitation regimen.

Although Ted has medical coverage, this is obviously a huge, unexpected expense, with many non-covered medical and non-medical expenses. There have been thousands of dollars of Airbnb costs for the family, as well as weeks of restaurant eating, gas back and forth to Mankato in addition to time off work for both Jill and Ted. This surgery requires a long recovery period. We want to help them in any way we can, and we hope you do too. Any amount, however small, will help Jill and Ted offset these expenses and free Ted to focus on his healing and recovery. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Eric and Jennifer and the whole Ornas family