Bryans Road to Recovery

My name is Rhiannon and I am creating this gofundme on behalf of my sister Sherri-Lynn Mendes. My sister is the sole provider for her 3 children ages 1, 8, and 16 and she’s worked everyday and night to provide her little family with all their needs. Their lives took a turn in April and she’s been on her sons bedside supporting him physically, spiritually, and emotionally since while her 2 other children have been left on Maui with her family.

From April 1st-15th her son Bryan would complain of a toothache which soon turned to unbearable headaches. They took multiple trips to Maui Memorial Medical Center and Maui Medical Group. After testing Bryan for flu, strep, and covid they sent him home again and again with different over the counter medications. Bryan’s pain increased each day, he became incoherent, he couldn’t hold nothing down, high fevers, and Sherri and our family became very worried.

On April 16th, they returned to Maui Memorial Medical Center. My sister demanded they run more test because sending him home again was not an option. They tested his spinal tap to test fluids from his brain and diagnosed him with meningitis. Now aware and realizing how serious his condition was they were medevac to Kapiolani Children’s Hospital.

On April 17th, Kapiolani PICU ran an MRI with contrast and found a cyst on the left side of his brain. Later that evening they performed a nasal surgery to drain the puss out of his nose. They hoped by clearing his sinuses it would help the antibiotic to reach the rest of the cyst and kill the infection.

On April 18th, they ran a follow up MRI and found the worst happened, the cyst traveled into his brain. An emergency surgery far worse than his first was performed late that evening. Surgeons cut through Bryan’s head to access the brain and remove the cyst, when we thought that surgery was over he suffered an aneurysm on the right side of his brain, that surgery was 9 hours. Doctors gave him an antibiotic to break down the aneurysm, he currently has a drainage tube to drain any infection left behind and blood that was broken down from his aneurysm.

Everyday Bryan amazes us with all the progress he is doing through all the pain he is enduring. Unfortunately, on May 6th Bryan suffered a stroke. He is currently going through physical, speech, and occupational therapy.

Their time on Oahu is undetermined because of all the things he suffered through. Sherri has exhausted all of her PTO from her job and she is now on leave of absence. Although her job is saved, there is no telling when she’ll be able to return.

We want to make sure when Sherri and Bryan return home and reunites with her other children she will still have a place to call home, her vehicle, and she is not put through any more hardship after all they’ve been through.

We want to thank everyone for your continued support, love, and prayers during this time. No donation will be too small and if you can’t donate a simple share will be just as appreciated.