Hello, my name is Allison, also known as Brandon’s baby sister. I am writing on behalf of the entire Whynaucht family, as we ask for your help and continued prayers. If you’re not the praying kind, please keep sending the positive vibes!

This past Friday, September 17th, Brandon experienced excruciating head pain while visiting our hometown of Wisconsin Rapids. He had plans to stay the weekend and help a high school friend with a mold (one of his many areas of artistic expertise is fiber glass mold making - he will be available for hire some day ). The head pain persisted and worsened Saturday night. By Sunday morning, it was unbearable and his friend took him to the ER. After CT scans and testing, it was determined that he had bleeding in his brain and needed to be transported, via helicopter, to UW Hospital in Madison.

Once in Madison, Neurology performed their own testing and CT scans; Brandon would need surgery to repair a brain aneurysm. A bifurcation in the blood vessel had thinned and had basically sprung a small leak. One on Friday and another early Sunday morning (hence the pain). The surgery was completed via his femoral artery and went as well as it could have gone, and using the least invasive method. He is in ICU for 14 days to allow for continued monitoring. Brandon will require many follow ups and further surgery to have a stent placed.

My oldest brother, Spencer, happened to be in Madison for work and was able to be with Brandon before and after surgery, as well as provide the rest of the family with detailed updates.

As soon as we knew the details and that Brandon would be transported via life flight, my parents, Ron and Barb, hit the road from TN for WI. There were no flights available, and if you know Ron, you know he prefers to drive. They arrived a few hours after surgery and will be taking turns staying with Brandon in ICU.

There are still many unknowns for Brandon and our family. However, we do know that there will be substantial and crippling medical bills for weeks, months, and years to come. Brandon is a single, 40 year-old man, and has no medical insurance.

Brandon has put smiles on all of our faces - yes you reading this, too - over the years, he’s even making a silly face in that pre-surgery picture, cares deeply for friends and family near and far; often brought to tears by devastating health diagnoses or death of childhood friends and family, and has helped those in need whenever able.

We ask that if you have the means and desire, to please help. If you do not have financial means, words of encouragement are also appreciated more than you will ever know. We are looking into many avenues of assistance. If you know of resources, please reach out to me, Ron, Barb, Spencer, or Erin.

Our family has been blown away by the outpouring of love, support, prayers, and concern for my brother and family. We have been reminded of the amazing community we were a part of for 30 years and are humbled by the love we have been shown even though 5 of the 6 of us are no longer residents.

Lastly, a forever “thank you”, to Ben Jennings, the childhood friend, that undoubtedly saved Brandon’s life by taking him to the hospital.

From all of us, thank you in advance for your help and continued prayers or positive vibes.