Bryan Gardner Medical Fund
Donation protected
Bryan's story (the short version):
On February 22nd Bryan went to urgent care for what he thought was just a bad cold. He was complaining of cough, sore throat, chills and chest congestion that were lingering for about one week. He was diagnosed with influenza type A "the flu" that day and went home with supportive/symptomatic treatment (prednisone and albuterol) that made him feel much better by that night. The stormy weather on Tuesday night kept Bryan's wife (Jill) awake and she heard Bryan wheezing and rattling in his chest with each breath....back to urgent care on Wednesday the 24th.
This visit was much different than the first because Bryan was almost too weak to stand and his blood oxygen level was very low (80's.) He was transported by ambulance a few miles down the road to the local Emergency Department and diagnosed with double pneumonia (in both lungs.) Bryan's ER physician was wonderful and started treating his infection aggressively. Bryan was admitted to an intensive care step down unit shortly after his arrival because he needed monitoring for his low blood oxygen levels and rapid respiratory rate. The hospital was full so Bryan and Jill remained in the ER for about 48hrs waiting to be transferred.
On Thursday afternoon around 3pm before the transfer to IMCU, Bryan took a turn for the worse and his oxygen level dropped into the 60's (should be 95-100%.) Intubation was discussed but Bryan's oxygen level was stabilized with help from the wonderful respiratory therapist and CPAP was used instead. With this sudden change in condition (still awake, alert, and struggling to breathe) he was admitted to ICU and transferred to his hospital room around 6pm.
Around 2pm on Friday Bryan was still struggling to breathe and having a difficult time tolerating the CPAP machine and his blood oxygen levels were still much too low. Two physicians decided together it was time for Bryan to get some rest so his lungs could heal...he was sedated, intubated, and placed on the ventilator. This intervention should have made him better but instead it did just the opposite. Bryan went into what was described as flash pulmonary edema and his lungs started to fill up with fluid. The ventilator was set at the highest settings and he was on medicine to keep his blood pressure up, he was critical and very unstable. The family was told he had a 10% chance of survival and things did not look good.
After a group prayer in the lobby The Lord intervened immediately and used a few close friends and family members to start the process of getting Bryan to a different hospital that was more equipped to handle patients with his specific needs. The acceptance from Emory came immediately following another bedside prayer over Bryan. However he had to meet certain criteria to go and his numbers just weren't there. The staff turned him face down on his stomach and about 15 minutes later his oxygen level shot up and he met the criteria needed to get him on a life flight and headed to Emory!!!
Bryan arrived at Emory sometime between midnight and 2am Saturday morning and was doing so well he did not even have to start ECMO until the next day! God is good! Don't forget it's been almost a week and Bryan's wife has remained at his side 24/7 with very little sleep! Bryan is still at Emory on the ventilator after 7 full days BUT he is off ECMO and seems to be doing much better than "10% chance of survival." God is so good! God is so so GOOD.
The weaning process is like a wild roller coaster ride and we do not know how much longer it will take. We also do not know how long the recovery period will be or how long Bryan and his family will need to remain in Atlanta. It's expensive to live in two places and it's really expensive to live in hotels and eat out several times per day while maintaining the steady flow of bills at home. Both Bryan and Jill have been out of work for two weeks now! The medical bills for the life flight and rare form of life support (ECMO) have not arrived just yet, but they will! Please consider blessing this sweet family with your love, prayers, and financial support as you are able!
On February 22nd Bryan went to urgent care for what he thought was just a bad cold. He was complaining of cough, sore throat, chills and chest congestion that were lingering for about one week. He was diagnosed with influenza type A "the flu" that day and went home with supportive/symptomatic treatment (prednisone and albuterol) that made him feel much better by that night. The stormy weather on Tuesday night kept Bryan's wife (Jill) awake and she heard Bryan wheezing and rattling in his chest with each breath....back to urgent care on Wednesday the 24th.
This visit was much different than the first because Bryan was almost too weak to stand and his blood oxygen level was very low (80's.) He was transported by ambulance a few miles down the road to the local Emergency Department and diagnosed with double pneumonia (in both lungs.) Bryan's ER physician was wonderful and started treating his infection aggressively. Bryan was admitted to an intensive care step down unit shortly after his arrival because he needed monitoring for his low blood oxygen levels and rapid respiratory rate. The hospital was full so Bryan and Jill remained in the ER for about 48hrs waiting to be transferred.
On Thursday afternoon around 3pm before the transfer to IMCU, Bryan took a turn for the worse and his oxygen level dropped into the 60's (should be 95-100%.) Intubation was discussed but Bryan's oxygen level was stabilized with help from the wonderful respiratory therapist and CPAP was used instead. With this sudden change in condition (still awake, alert, and struggling to breathe) he was admitted to ICU and transferred to his hospital room around 6pm.
Around 2pm on Friday Bryan was still struggling to breathe and having a difficult time tolerating the CPAP machine and his blood oxygen levels were still much too low. Two physicians decided together it was time for Bryan to get some rest so his lungs could heal...he was sedated, intubated, and placed on the ventilator. This intervention should have made him better but instead it did just the opposite. Bryan went into what was described as flash pulmonary edema and his lungs started to fill up with fluid. The ventilator was set at the highest settings and he was on medicine to keep his blood pressure up, he was critical and very unstable. The family was told he had a 10% chance of survival and things did not look good.
After a group prayer in the lobby The Lord intervened immediately and used a few close friends and family members to start the process of getting Bryan to a different hospital that was more equipped to handle patients with his specific needs. The acceptance from Emory came immediately following another bedside prayer over Bryan. However he had to meet certain criteria to go and his numbers just weren't there. The staff turned him face down on his stomach and about 15 minutes later his oxygen level shot up and he met the criteria needed to get him on a life flight and headed to Emory!!!
Bryan arrived at Emory sometime between midnight and 2am Saturday morning and was doing so well he did not even have to start ECMO until the next day! God is good! Don't forget it's been almost a week and Bryan's wife has remained at his side 24/7 with very little sleep! Bryan is still at Emory on the ventilator after 7 full days BUT he is off ECMO and seems to be doing much better than "10% chance of survival." God is so good! God is so so GOOD.
The weaning process is like a wild roller coaster ride and we do not know how much longer it will take. We also do not know how long the recovery period will be or how long Bryan and his family will need to remain in Atlanta. It's expensive to live in two places and it's really expensive to live in hotels and eat out several times per day while maintaining the steady flow of bills at home. Both Bryan and Jill have been out of work for two weeks now! The medical bills for the life flight and rare form of life support (ECMO) have not arrived just yet, but they will! Please consider blessing this sweet family with your love, prayers, and financial support as you are able!
Organizer and beneficiary
Kim King Mills
Organizer
Thomasville, GA
Jill Gardner
Beneficiary