Hi my name is Sarah Evans and I am starting this Go Fund Me on behalf of my Brother in Law, Mike Keerns, to help my sister, and the rest of his family navigate the medical recovery ahead.

 

As some of you may or may not realize, the Keerns' family has been navigating Mike's medical journey since March of this year. It has truly been some of the hardest 7 months of their life dealing with a congenital heart defect, he was diagnosed with at 15. He received his first pacemaker at 28 and they have been managing his heart ever since. In March, his heart began having constant arrhythmia storms and his heart function deteriorated significantly. He was shocked in front of our entire family at one of the last great family gatherings we had and had a 25 day stay at Saxony and Methodist. Unfortunately, Mike had not yet been able to return to work and was let go from Hamilton Southeastern after 15 years of service, in early October.

 

He does have long term disability, but has not yet qualified for social security. Since Robin is also a long time employee of HSE, they had a significant family discount on insurance but that recently ended, due to the loss of Mike's job, adding a large monthly expense and another blow to a family already dealing with so much.

 

Mike's procedure on the 18th was a routine defibrillator change, that turned into a respiratory arrest and cardiac arrest. Thank God, CPR and an AED saved his life after 8 long minutes. He was placed on a vent and put in a medically induced coma. On Thanksgiving, a week later we were given a medical miracle and he was able to come off the vent. He continues to improve daily, but we are currently dealing with extremely delayed cognitive processing. There have been times he's known his loved ones and times he has not. This is obviously extremely hard for Robin, who has not left his side the last week, she is his angel on earth.

 

Mike has an extremely long road ahead of him. He is already being assessed for OT, PT, and Speech. Dealing with a brain injury is new territory for Mike and Robin when his heart has been an all consuming journey the last 7 months.

 

Robin needs to be able to be off with Mike. I want that for her. As a former educator, I know how hard it is to do an already difficult job, but doing it while trying to be a caregiver to one of the most important people in your life, impossible.

 

Since Robin is now the only income, this GO FUND ME will help alleviate the stress of finical restraints time off will cause. I know the Keerns family have touched a lot of lives in the community and I know they have a community of people who love them and want to help. This would be the best way. WE love and Thank EVERYONE for the continued PRAYERS. We have felt them and seen the miracles they have worked, Thank you. Sarah