Help with Kassidy's COVID Battle

There is no one who hasn't been affected by the COVID pandemic over the last two years. We have all felt its effects from job loss, year-long separations from family, sickness, and death. Our family faces a time of need for prayers and donations for our brother, Kassidy.

 

Shortly after Christmas, Kassidy became ill with fever, chills, and shortness of breath. He and his fiancee took precautions and got tested for COVID. His first test came back negative, and they assumed his illness would eventually subside. After a week of persistent fever, chills, worsening shortness of breath and chest tightness, Kassidy was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital ER. He tested positive for COVID, and a chest x-ray showed bilateral pneumonia. He was sent home with albuterol and a Z-pak. A few days after his visit to the ER, he could no longer walk a few feet without experiencing severe shortness of breath and chest pains. On January 14th, he was rushed to West Penn Hospital, where his diagnosis had worsened to acute hypoxic respiratory failure due to COVID. Despite all efforts, on January 17th Kassidy was admitted to the ICU and placed on a ventilator as his O2 saturation continued to decrease. On January 18th, he was transferred to the MICU unit at Allegheny General Hospital to receive more intensive care. As of January 21st, he is still intubated, sedated, and receiving critical care. As his x-rays have not shown any improvement, his care team has not ruled out the possibility of placing him on ECMO if his condition worsens. Kassidy has a long road ahead of him.

*UPDATE*:  Around 12:30am on Wednesday night (1/26) our family received an urgent call to get to Alleghany General Hospital and were told that the next 24 hours would be critical for Kassidy.  He was  acutely decompensating despite changes made to the ventilation and medications.  They believe his condition has now entered the fibro-proliferative phase of ARDS. Meaning  after all of the inflammation and fluid buildup from pneumonia, fibrous tissue has begun forming in his lungs. Due to length of time on the ventilator he has passed the window for ECMO.  As a result of worsening kidney function, Kassidy has now been placed on dialysis and a hemolung to assist in removing CO2 and reverse the and improve his respiratory acidosis. 

 

They never anticipated this was how their year would begin. Kassidy and his fiancee, Courtney, were meant to start this year with more wedding preparations, as their big day is set for September 17, 2022. Courtney is limited to phone calls and only sees him through a protective window with such limited visitor restrictions. She calls him each day and night to listen to her voice; she is also working, taking care of their house, bills, and dog Ramsey.

 

If you have ever met our brother, you know what a kind and gentle giant he is. We can collectively say that he is the best of us in our family alone. He may not be a man of many words, but his few words always have the most meaning.

 

As one can imagine, the hospital bills will start piling up for his fiancee. Kassidy has been out of work since December 28th, 2021 due to COVID and the following events, leaving the bills to Courtney alone. With their wedding right around the corner majority of their savings are tied up in deposits and wedding expenses. We ask for prayers and donations to help us support Kassidy and his fiancee during this challenging time.
Alternative option, Courtney's venmo is : CBarnhart207