Please Help the Brakke's

Kim and her family have worked hard on trying to keep up with medical bills for both Kim and her son, Ben, for many years. Because of the complications and mishaps in her surgeries, Kim is unable to work, making it impossible to currently keep up with the medical bills. Here is Kim’s story:

It started with Kim’s surgery, Nissen Fundoplication and Hiatal Hernia Repair (treatment for Gerd), on November of 2012. Since this time, Kim has had to have over 20 endoscopies due to severe acid reflux which the Nissen surgery should have corrected. A year later the wrap disbanded causing Kim to have her 1st revision of initial surgery. Since then, she has had to endure one more revision. The complications that resulted from her 1st revision to her last revision are the following: pneumonia, bilateral pleural effusion (liquid in the lining of the lungs), pancreatitis, and liver dysfunction. These complications caused Kim to have gall bladder surgery two weeks after first revision while she was dealing with pneumonia, pancreatitis, and liver dysfunction. It was discovered that during the 1st revision, because of the disbanding of the wrap around the esophagus, Kim’s stomach was in her chest cavity and the hiatal hernia was opened. Therefore, a second revision would happen in June of 2014 where again, complications had arisen. Her vena cava (large vein that carries blood from the lower and middle body into the right atrium of the heart) was nicked causing Kim to lose a unit of blood. Being this was done by a robot, the surgeon was close to opening Kim up to finish her surgery. Kim became very nauseous causing her to have a feeding tube inserted for two weeks. After second revision, Kim experienced severe pain under her left rib cage. It was discovered her colon had worked its way around where the physician had attached her stomach to her abdominal wall. Because of the severe pain and vomiting (which you are not supposed to be vomiting, as it appears the surgery did not take effect), Kim could not perform her work duties and was let go of two jobs. In January of 2017, Kim had a colon resection taking out 16 inches of her colon. Since the second revision on July of 2017, Kim experienced portal vein thrombosis (blood clot in portal vein) with her needing to be on blood thinners for six months per protocol. She was in the hospital for a week to start this process. On August of 2017, she had to have a gastric simulator put in due to severe nausea. Kim has currently had three gastric emptying studies which has shown severe gastro paresis, which means her stomach does not empty causing severe nausea and pain. At the last study, which took four hours, in June of 2019, Kim had to eat an egg with radioactive liquid in it. The results were that there was 60% of this radioactive liquid still in her stomach where it should have been totally emptied. Therefore, Kim had 3 options: First one is to take the apexy down (they will detach her stomach from her abdominal wall and clean out adhesions and scar tissue); Second one was gastric bypass; and Third was gastric sleeve. Kim and her family will discuss with the surgeon which would be the best option. Since November 2012, Kim has had to endure over 15 procedures and surgeries, some not mentioned in this message.

Their son, Ben, was diagnosed at age 2 (2002) with Bruton’s X-linked agammaglobulinemia which means he has no immune system. At age 3, they found out he had severe to profound hearing loss in both ears which resulted in Iowa City confirming the condition and doing a hearing aide trial for six months. The test showed the hearing aide attributed to better hearing conditions. Therefore, he had a cochlear implant done the day after his 4th birthday in Iowa City. Around 5 years old, Ben was tested in a research study for Iowa City for DDON (Deafness Dystonia Optic Neuronopathy) which was done in correlation with the Netherlands where this testing was originated. This confirmed that Ben did have DDON. There are only 7 other cases known to exist in the United States of American with less than 70 worldwide.

Ben has been having treatment since 2 in regards to his immune system. This treatment is performed once a week and gives him a durable immune system so he definitely benefits from this treatment. The treatment is very expensive, but not an option to not do it.

Please consider donating to this family as they have gone through a lot during their lifetime together. Any amount would be very much appreciated. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.