Poppell Family

My mom is 49 years old (However, she claims 29!) and suffered a major brain bleed to her Basal Ganglia on Friday, April 12th. The Basal Ganglia are a group of structures found deep within the cerebral hemispheres. The Basal Ganglia controls much of the motor control for the body. Blood on the brain kills brain cells, and in this specific location-very important brain cells.  My mom is currently at Hackensack Meridian Health Jersey Shore University Medical Center and is in critical condition. She is in a coma state currently, but in the name of Jesus Christ she wont be there long.  My name is Brittany Johnson. I'm the oldest daughter of Britt and Lynda Poppell. My parents have been married 30 years and have 6 kids, I'm 29 and the youngest is 12. My parents have 3 grandbabies and 1 on the way. My daddy, Britt, is a commercial fisherman and provides for my mom and two youngest siblings. (18 and 12) We do not know the cause of the brain bleed. My mom was found by my 18 year old sister on Friday, April 12th around 1:45pm. My dad had been with my mom that morning until about 9:45 am, he kissed her goodbye, and headed out on the boat for a trip. My 18 year old sister checked out of school early that day and after arriving home, went to use the bathroom and found my mom. She was somewhat unconscious and not responding to my sister. My sister called my dad and he turned his boat around and headed back home.  My sister called an ambulance and they rushed her to the local hospital. She immediately underwent surgery to remove the pressure from the brain that the blood in her Basal Ganglia had created. She was put on a breathing tube to assist her breathing while she is somewhat sedated or in a coma state. She was placed on an EVD machine to begin removing the blood from her brain as well.  Right now we're waiting and praying. The bleed has stopped but the blood is still present on the brain. They are removing what they can however the Basal Ganglia is a deep space in the brain and it would be devastating to attempt to remove the blood from that place on the brain so we have to wait for her body to dissolve some of the blood. The issue is that the more time that blood is on her brain, the more potential damage to the brain. She is stable and, while somewhat sedated, we need to see activity. We need her to respond to commands and localize pain. These signs of activity are indicators of whether or not she will come through this. We need her to wake up. As of this moment, she has been in the hospital for just under 48 hours. The nurses keep her blood pressure down, her heart rate in check, and they come in every hour and complete a series of tests that check her activity. *Update Wednesday, April 17th. The nurses are still keeping her blood pressure down, her heart rate in check, and they still come in every hour and complete a series of tests that check her activity. The nurses here are phenomenal! They care. We're electing to have the trach(ea) tube inserted to help her breathing and the bigger more uncomfortable "breathing tube" removed. The trachea tube can be removed as she gets better. It is reversible. Progress! She still has blood on her brain that is being removed at all times, pray it dissipates soon! HERE IS WHERE WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS! The tests include pinching her, checking her pupils, and speaking to her. They use a scale from 1-6 when administering these tests. She gets graded between 1 and 6.  6 Following commands (Best case scenario)  5 Localizing 4 Reacting to pain 3 And 2 Reflex 1 No movement My mom is currently at a 5. Localizing means when the nurses pinch her right arm, she lifts her left arm and reaches across to the source of the pain. THIS IS GOOD. THIS IS MY GOD HEALING HER AGAINST ALL ODDS! Pray that she begins responding to commands. Pray she opens her eyes and talks to us. Pray she gets up and walks. Pray! That is our #1 request of anyone reading this GoFundMe campaign. HERE IS WHERE WE NEED YOU TO GIVE. As I said before, my dad provides for my mom and two youngest siblings. He pays the bills. He is at my mom's bedside as I type this and wants to be able to stay with her and my two youngest siblings for as long as it takes to see mom home. I am asking that you find it in your heart to give so that my daddy can stay with her and my two youngest siblings and continue to pay the bills. We have no idea how long she will be in ICU and my goal here is to relive some of his stress. Beyond the typical household bills, my mom and dad's rental agreement ends May 31st and they will have to be out of their current rental and in another home here in New Jersey for my two youngest siblings to finish the school year. The youngest, my 12 year old brother, is finishing 6th grade.  My 18 year old sister graduates from High School on June 20th and will then start college, Lord willing, in September. We have no family in New Jersey that they could stay with and they have to finish the school year. We do not know where they'll lay their heads from May 31st to the end of the school year.  Through your donations, we could keep my daddy home and off the boat, keep the bills paid, and get them into another rental to, at least, finish the school year.   More than anything, we covet your prayers for my mama! If you can give, please do.  Please email me at [email redacted] with any questions or concerns.  Brittany Johnson