Josh Ollar "Miracle Man" Recovery Fund
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Josh Ollar is a miracle. He’s a wonderful son, partner, brother, stepdad, and friend. He can’t wait to marry his fiancee Christine. He’s a hard-working and talented carpenter and a gifted chef. He loves live music and travel and a good cup of coffee. And he is always there if you need him. But Josh’s life almost ended on November 25, 2018 when he suffered a serious and life-threatening brain bleed. He was rushed to a nearby emergency room and then taken by life flight helicopter to a hospital that specializes in treating serious aneurysms like Josh’s.
Josh was one of the lucky ones — he survived. What doctors didn’t tell us at the time was that more than 90% of people in Josh’s situation don’t make it. Doctors also didn’t tell us until later that the small number of people who do survive a grade 5 subarachnoid hemorrhage like Josh’s (the most serious form of aneurysm), are often in a coma months later. Josh’s experience has been different. He woke up and was able to breathe without life support in just two days. He made it through a dangerous two weeks when the blood vessels in his brain went into spasms that could have resulted in strokes and his body re-learned to regulate his temperature after daily fevers that threatened his life. Doctors saved Josh with repeated and complicated treatments. Despite the severity of his illness, Josh was walking with the help of a walker – haltingly, with difficulty – within a couple of weeks. He survived in large part because of the excellent medical care he has received. Yet, his recovery has been so unusual that even his doctors and nurses are amazed. They stop by his hospital room just to ask Josh his story. Hospital staff call him the “miracle man.”
The aneurysm left Josh’s body unable to clear fluid from his brain and Josh recently had further surgery to place a permanent shunt to prevent dangerous pressure buildups in his brain. Josh will need lifelong follow-up care with neurologists and other specialists to monitor his health. Josh was in critical condition in the ICU for three weeks. To date, doctors and nurses and air ambulance personnel have provided about $2 million in medical care. Thankfully, health insurance covers a lot of his medical costs, but not all of them. Josh is facing very large medical bills and collections personnel are eager for payment.
It will take hard work and time for Josh to regain his strength. His memory is still fuzzy, he is learning to manage severe headaches that doctors tell us may last weeks or months, and he will need cognitive therapy to sharpen his verbal skills and memory. Doctors can’t say when Josh will be able to go back to work. He will need weeks or months of physical therapy to help him regain function in his left leg and foot. Josh needs your help to complete this miracle. Please consider making a contribution in any amount to support Josh’s efforts in his recovery journey.
Josh was one of the lucky ones — he survived. What doctors didn’t tell us at the time was that more than 90% of people in Josh’s situation don’t make it. Doctors also didn’t tell us until later that the small number of people who do survive a grade 5 subarachnoid hemorrhage like Josh’s (the most serious form of aneurysm), are often in a coma months later. Josh’s experience has been different. He woke up and was able to breathe without life support in just two days. He made it through a dangerous two weeks when the blood vessels in his brain went into spasms that could have resulted in strokes and his body re-learned to regulate his temperature after daily fevers that threatened his life. Doctors saved Josh with repeated and complicated treatments. Despite the severity of his illness, Josh was walking with the help of a walker – haltingly, with difficulty – within a couple of weeks. He survived in large part because of the excellent medical care he has received. Yet, his recovery has been so unusual that even his doctors and nurses are amazed. They stop by his hospital room just to ask Josh his story. Hospital staff call him the “miracle man.”
The aneurysm left Josh’s body unable to clear fluid from his brain and Josh recently had further surgery to place a permanent shunt to prevent dangerous pressure buildups in his brain. Josh will need lifelong follow-up care with neurologists and other specialists to monitor his health. Josh was in critical condition in the ICU for three weeks. To date, doctors and nurses and air ambulance personnel have provided about $2 million in medical care. Thankfully, health insurance covers a lot of his medical costs, but not all of them. Josh is facing very large medical bills and collections personnel are eager for payment.
It will take hard work and time for Josh to regain his strength. His memory is still fuzzy, he is learning to manage severe headaches that doctors tell us may last weeks or months, and he will need cognitive therapy to sharpen his verbal skills and memory. Doctors can’t say when Josh will be able to go back to work. He will need weeks or months of physical therapy to help him regain function in his left leg and foot. Josh needs your help to complete this miracle. Please consider making a contribution in any amount to support Josh’s efforts in his recovery journey.
Organiser
Rachel Ollar Entrican
Organiser
Denver, CO