Helping Teresa: A Mother’s Journey to Care for Her Son Bran

I am reaching out to family, friends, and the community with a heavy heart asking for help for my family.

At the beginning of April, my brother Bran was hospitalized as a result of struggling with alcohol addiction for years. If you have ever known or loved someone with an addiction, you know how difficult and painful it is to watch them struggle with this ugly disease.

Bran spent 5 days in ICU and has been in a step down room recovering since. He has been given blood transfusions, various IVs, antibiotics, physical therapy and paracentesis procedures to alleviate the pain and fluid. His kidney and liver levels have went up and down and he is not improving like we hoped. Ultimately, we are looking at the tough decision of hospice care. Bran has chosen to fight and continue to receive a specific IV treatment until his body chooses to no longer fight.

My heart breaks as I thought he would be able to return home and have a new lease on life in recovering both physically and mentally.

Since being hospitalized, my mom Teresa, has barely left his side. She has spent many nights and long days by his side. She has cried many tears while trying to be strong and continue to support and advocate for him. If you have ever met my mom, you know how kind and caring she is. She is the definition of a “mama bear” and would do anything to help her children, no matter what age we are. She has shown my brother the truest form of unconditional love throughout his struggles.

With the recent passing of my grandmother, my mom is out of PTO. She has chosen to take some unpaid time off of work so she can be with my brother.

I am graciously asking for donations to help with assistance with my mother’s bills for the next several weeks as she remains with my brother.

If you are not able to donate, please share and send my family your love, prayers and healing thoughts during this difficult time.