An Urgent Update: Brallan’s Health Crisis

We are writing to share some incredibly difficult and urgent news about Brallan’s health. What started as a relaxing Sunday, September 28th, quickly turned into a life-threatening emergency, but this crisis also led to a miraculous and accidental discovery that saved his life.

Sunday, September 28th: The Emergency

Brallan had just finished grilling for our family dinner with the kids (Chanel, 14; Cookie, 13; Anthony, 11; and Kylie, 2).

As he went to shower, he suffered a sudden fall, hitting the back of his head.

Initially, he didn't recall the fall and asked me not to call an ambulance. However, about 10 minutes later, he began vomiting profusely. By the time the paramedics arrived, his speech was confused, and his eyes were rolled back and fixed to the right. The ambulance immediately rushed him to the hospital, suspecting a stroke.

Diagnosis and Life-Saving Decisions

At the hospital, it was all hands on deck. Doctors quickly determined he was suffering a right MCA occlusion (stroke) and needed immediate intervention. I had mere seconds to make the critical decision to authorize a powerful blood thinner, TPA (the "Clot Buster"), to combat the stroke, despite its high risks.

In the midst of this emergency, a subsequent heart scan revealed an even more shocking diagnosis: doctors found what appeared to be a mass or tumor in his heart.

The Accidental Discovery and Path Forward

We have since confirmed that Brallan has an extremely rare heart condition and needs open-heart surgery to surgically remove the mass. The surgery is necessary to prevent future catastrophic events and to allow the mass to be fully evaluated.

This discovery was completely accidental—had he not suffered this cardiac episode and fall on Sunday, we would not have found the mass. He is extremely lucky to be alive.

Recovery Timeline

Brallan will be undergoing open-heart surgery soon. Recovery from this type of procedure is significant:

• He is expected to remain in the hospital for an additional 5 to 7 days after the surgery.

• The initial healing period typically takes 6 to 12 weeks.

• We anticipate a 2 to 3-month full recovery before he can return to work.

Our Request to Family and Friends

First and foremost, please pray for Brallan and our entire family as we face this incredibly challenging time.

Second, we ask that you share this message to help spread awareness. Brallan’s situation is a powerful reminder: Please go see your doctors regularly! His life was saved by an accidental discovery, underscoring the importance of preventative care.

Due to the challenging nature of his recovery, Brallan will be unable to work on estimates for 2-3 months following his surgery. We are asking for a small donation to help cover essential bills (housing, car, insurance) and daily expenses during this time. Your contribution will relieve the financial stress and allow him the necessary time to heal properly without rushing back to work

Thank you so much for taking the time to read his story. We will provide an update as soon as we can after the surgery.