Mike Berry’s Family need our prayers and support

This is a GoFundMe started for Mike Berry’s family— Kate & Baby A

**Final update**

“He fought hard…so hard…but in end, even with an army behind him…it was too much.

I love you and miss you…I cannot imagine my life without you. Aiden was so lucky to have you. We will try to make you proud”

We ask our fellow exhibitors, friends, and family to continue to share & promote the GoFundMe, MealTrain, and offer assistance and prayers in any way possible.

For our upcoming shows we ask those who are able to -to wear red- As well as Heart Disease Ribbons over your heart that will be distributed at upcoming local shows-

Please cherish every moment, share your memories of Mike, and keep Kate and baby A in your thoughts.

Last Friday, he suffered a heart attack which ultimately landed him into surgery to place 2 stents. Later receiving several other surgeries- unfortunately a week after his initial hospitalization, Mike- a loving father, husband, and friend to many lost his fight.

As professional dog handlers, they travel and move from show to show in order to show their clients dogs to their championships and make a living. Due to these tragic circumstances we wish to help Kate, and their baby Aiden get through this difficult time.

Their family brings so much light and warmth to the show community, from beginners to long time colleagues, they have always offered a hand. The Berrys have always been a support system for so many exhibitors and breeders.

They are kind, they are loving, and they need our help.

We are a community brought together by what we love and, what we do. Lending support in a time of need is what we do.

We are setting up this go fund me to help offset the costs of hospital expenses, memorial service, and funds aside due to these extremely difficult circumstances.

Please share, donate, and send your support.

Be a shoulder to lean on.

— To this wonderful family —

We are here to help in any way we can.

We love you

Kates previous updates -

“It’s been a roller coaster of a day, and to say I’m overwhelmed is the understatement of the year.

Mike has made it through the surgery for ECMO. This is basically the highest level of life support there is. It comes with some risks, ie stroke and severe bleeding. He had one bleed while in surgery, and they got it repaired immediately.

He is still under total sedation, vent, etc. What is happening now, is the ECMO is functioning as his heart and lungs, so hopefully his body will begin repairing itself. We don’t know the exact damages to his organs at this point. He is on a dialysis to support his kidneys. Things are very touch and go, but he’s a fighter so we are hopeful. He is currently in CVICU where he is monitored 24/7 with both a nurse and someone attending the ECMO in his room.

Thank you to Mark and Courtney Karpinsky and Marietta Singleton for each driving several hours to be there for Aiden and me. We are lucky.

Thank you to his medical staff for acting so quickly and saving his life a 4th time in about 36 hours. And thank you to the security officer who opened up the family waiting room for us to be able to be together, Aiden to run around and watch TV and digest the information as it came in.

Aiden and I just got home from the hospital and are going to try to get a bit of rest after taking care of the dogs.

Thank you to everyone that has reached out and offered a lending hand and support from all over the world. We are lucky to have such amazing family and friends near and far.

Hoping I will have a much better report tomorrow after an emotionally draining day today.”

Update from Kate

-

“Morning update. Super thankful for Chris Berry making the trip and being with Mike so we could come home and regroup and take care of the dogs.

Mike is still in serious critical condition. They were finally able to get a pulse in his right leg/foot, now hoping the left leg will follow suit.

He is currently undergoing a TEE procedure to evaluate the size and amount of leakage from his mitral valve due to a rupture that they think is what caused him to code both times yesterday.

For right now, we are taking things day by day, more like minute by minute.

Mikes family will be flying out and be here tomorrow to be with him. Aiden has a playdate with his BFF Levi tomorrow-thank you so much to Mark & Courtney for making another trip so Aiden can enjoy being a kid for awhile.

Please keep up the positive thoughts! We need them!

Thank you to everyone that has reached out, given advice, support, and offered help. For right now, we are going to keep chugging along here. The dogs and Aiden are my one bit of normalcy in my life currently, but if I am overwhelmed I know I will have support and assistance at the drop of a hat-and for that, I thank you all from the bottom of our hearts!“

Update-

”Not a whole lot to update here right now. Mike is doing well and comfortable. They did a TEE today to see where and how bad the damage is to the mitral valve. Dr is hoping to do a mitral clip on Tuesday if all goes well between now and then. There are some issues with lack of circulation to his left leg, so he’s sporting a fancy boot to help that. So far the tissue is not necrotic. Kidney levels aren’t great, but that is expected. They told me his liver values will go down as well in the next 24 hours, which is again expected. We will know more in the next few days as to how his body is healing, and what other measures need to be taken. For now, the ECMO is doing its job, and we’ve had improvements in his acid levels and pressure regulation. He did have a small bleed today, which is fixed. During the time they were tending to that, there was some movement from him. This means his pain receptors are working, so there is activity up in that hard head of his.

Again, thank you to everyone for their support and well wishes. It means the world to all of us. When I can spend more time with him tomorrow, I’ll read him everyone’s well wishes. Today I told him that we’ve now saved his butt several times, now he needs to fight. We also played the paw patrol theme song to him in hopes he would think Aiden was there.”

”Morning update. Been in touch with the nurses about every 2 hours. Things are kinda starus quo for the time being. As predicted, his liver values are declining. He has had some more bleeding, so continuing transfusions and now platelets. Will be meeting with the doctor at noon to discuss the mitral clip procedure that they are hopeful he is strong enough to do tomorrow.

Mikes mom and brother’s flight was cancelled last evening, so they are currently en route and should arrive late this afternoon.

The outpouring of support from everyone is keeping us going during this difficult time.

We have a network of handlers and friends that are going to get a few of our dogs down to Tampa, the rest are here with me and Aiden.

A big shoutout to Susan Still, Donna Ernst and Nancy Brown for helping explain all of the medical terms, and assuring me that everything possible is being done for Mike.

I will update everyone after my meeting with the doctor.

As for Aiden and I, we had a rough night last night, but we will remain strong-we can’t expect Mike to fight if we aren’t doing the same. Again, thank you to everyone-and I apologize if I haven’t gotten back to your personal messages, texts and calls.”

Our show dog community sends our love.

Rest in peace friend. We all miss you so much.