We are the Anesthesia Group at HCA Florida Trinity Hospital, and we are coming together to support one of our own.

Jonathan is a combat-wounded Air Force veteran who served his country with honor for 23 years. After dedicating over two decades to protecting others, he brought that same dedication to our team as a proud anesthesia technician at HCA Trinity. He has always shown up for everyone around him — and now, it's our turn to show up for him.

Two days ago, Jonathan was attending the NASCAR race in Atlanta with his girlfriend Elise when he suddenly collapsed with severe chest pain. He was transported via ambulance to a hospital in Stockbridge, GA. During transport, Jonathan became unresponsive and coded — he was clinically deceased. The EMS team responded immediately, performing CPR and defibrillating him four times before restoring a pulse and consciousness. Jonathan fought his way back.

Upon arrival at the hospital, he was rushed into emergency surgery in the cath lab. Jonathan had developed a thrombosis — a dangerous blood clot — in the LAD, the heart's main and largest artery, with an 80% blockage. Surgeons placed a stent to restore blood flow. Due to the severe damage sustained, his heart was functioning at only 35% capacity, requiring doctors to place a balloon pump through his femoral artery to support adequate heart function. Following the procedure, Jonathan was transferred to the ICU.

Now 48 hours later, Jonathan is stable and showing signs of progress. The balloon pump has been successfully removed, and his heart is working on its own. He has sat upright, eaten a little food, and is more alert — though still very uncomfortable, particularly from the sternal compressions during CPR. His care team is working to transfer him from the ICU to the cardiac floor, where he will begin physical therapy. The team is monitoring him closely, as his cardiologist remains concerned about the risk of developing another clot given the extent of the heart damage.

Before discharge, Jonathan was fitted for a LifeVest — a wearable external defibrillator he must wear 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for a minimum of 3 months, or until his cardiologist clears him. If he goes into cardiac arrest again, it will shock him immediately. It is, quite literally, a life-saving piece of equipment.

Traveling home to Tampa remains high risk at this time. Once his team determines it is safe, Jonathan and Elise will make their way back — by whatever means is safest for him. His older sister Valerie lives in the Brandon area and will be part of his support system as he recovers.

Once home, Jonathan will require around-the-clock care and will not be able to return to his two-story home during recovery. He and Elise will both need to take time off work, and temporary living arrangements will need to be made. The LifeVest, ongoing medical care, temporary housing, and lost income are the primary needs this campaign aims to address.

Through all of this, Elise has not left Jonathan's side for a single moment — moving when he moves, keeping him as comfortable as possible, and by all accounts becoming, in her own words, "the best nose scratcher in the world."

Jonathan is expected to make a full recovery and return to the active lifestyle he loves — but it will be a long road, and he cannot do it alone. This man served his country, survived combat, coded in an ambulance, and is still fighting. Please help us give him every resource he needs to come home and heal.

Every dollar donated goes directly to Jonathan's recovery. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

For updates, you can follow Elise on Facebook and Instagram: @EliseRene