Recovery support for Becca Harris’ brain injury
Donation protected
Yesterday morning, April 7th, my sister, Becca Harris (My sister on the right with my mother) was in an accident and was hit in the frontal left lobe with a softball-sized object (resulting in a shattered frontal skull and torn brain tissue). She was taken by ambulance to the hospital for CT scans, and, after a seizure it was determined that she needed surgery immediately.
Surgery of: The left (front temporal lobe) craniotomy for elevation of depressed skull fracture.
Noted here is an update from surgery performed last night (April 7th) by a Neurosurgeon:
“Rebecca is successfully out of surgery… Joe, her husband was present on speaker when the surgical-nurse called. The nurse said that before the surgery Becca was more alert than she had been. She told the team she was cold (Her first verbalization in many hours) and they got warm blankets for her. Then he asked her to squeeze his hand if she heard and understood him and she did.”
The skull fracture went in about half an inch. The bone was fragmented when the surgeon got in and he was not able to "pop it out" as he had planned. Instead he removed all the fragments and placed a titanium mesh (about the size of a half dollar) in the area and tacked it down. There was also a small slice in the lining of the brain made by one of the fragments.
The thing they will be watching is the brain bruise--the area where the brain was pushed in. The pressure has been relieved and God willing (his words) she will not have any further seizures. It will take time for the bruise to heal however.
She goes from post-op to ICU where the plan is for her husband, Joe, to catch up with her there today (April 8th, 2021).”
I realize that family and friends understandably want details, but I cannot disclose many details at this moment.
I have created this page for Medical Updates and relief of financial burden, perhaps meals or words of encouragement for Becca; We understand that she potentially has an arduous recovery ahead and there are so many unknowns with traumatic brain injuries. We want to ensure she has the best care to heal her brain injury, and we realize that taking a financial burden off of a family can help for a successful recovery.
We also have no idea when she can return to her place of work. My sister is the most selfless and giving person I have ever met and is incredibly modest about her contribution to the community and her life’s work. I will continue to post updates here as they come and anything donated here will go to her physical recovery, physical therapy, missed work, hospital, ambulance bills, and anything insurance or the state won’t cover.
To end, I want to acknowledge that my sister’s abundant love for her “life’s work” for the past 20+ years (as a social worker) has been a marvel and an inspiration to many that know her and she has given her sincerest, most fair and non-bias care to children and adolescents in the Arizona area.
Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts for your prayers, notes and contributions and I will post updates as they come.
Love, The Brutlag Family
Surgery of: The left (front temporal lobe) craniotomy for elevation of depressed skull fracture.
Noted here is an update from surgery performed last night (April 7th) by a Neurosurgeon:
“Rebecca is successfully out of surgery… Joe, her husband was present on speaker when the surgical-nurse called. The nurse said that before the surgery Becca was more alert than she had been. She told the team she was cold (Her first verbalization in many hours) and they got warm blankets for her. Then he asked her to squeeze his hand if she heard and understood him and she did.”
The skull fracture went in about half an inch. The bone was fragmented when the surgeon got in and he was not able to "pop it out" as he had planned. Instead he removed all the fragments and placed a titanium mesh (about the size of a half dollar) in the area and tacked it down. There was also a small slice in the lining of the brain made by one of the fragments.
The thing they will be watching is the brain bruise--the area where the brain was pushed in. The pressure has been relieved and God willing (his words) she will not have any further seizures. It will take time for the bruise to heal however.
She goes from post-op to ICU where the plan is for her husband, Joe, to catch up with her there today (April 8th, 2021).”
I realize that family and friends understandably want details, but I cannot disclose many details at this moment.
I have created this page for Medical Updates and relief of financial burden, perhaps meals or words of encouragement for Becca; We understand that she potentially has an arduous recovery ahead and there are so many unknowns with traumatic brain injuries. We want to ensure she has the best care to heal her brain injury, and we realize that taking a financial burden off of a family can help for a successful recovery.
We also have no idea when she can return to her place of work. My sister is the most selfless and giving person I have ever met and is incredibly modest about her contribution to the community and her life’s work. I will continue to post updates here as they come and anything donated here will go to her physical recovery, physical therapy, missed work, hospital, ambulance bills, and anything insurance or the state won’t cover.
To end, I want to acknowledge that my sister’s abundant love for her “life’s work” for the past 20+ years (as a social worker) has been a marvel and an inspiration to many that know her and she has given her sincerest, most fair and non-bias care to children and adolescents in the Arizona area.
Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts for your prayers, notes and contributions and I will post updates as they come.
Love, The Brutlag Family
Organizer and beneficiary
Patty Williams Brutlag
Organizer
Vista, CA
Rebecca Harris
Beneficiary
