Support for Gary Iverson

*** We wanted to share with you that yesterday afternoon, Easter Sunday, Gary passed peacefully with Renae, Steven, and Becky at his side. Neurologists had determined that the Gary we all know and love was no longer with us, and we needed to let him go. The care he received in Utah was extraordinary. We feel confident that they exhausted all available resources and showed tremendous grace in allowing the family full access to Gary day and night. He was never alone, and Renae and the kids felt your love and support through this entire process. There is no doubt that Gary knew he was deeply loved.

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4/7/2023

Dear Friends and Family,

From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to thank those friends and family that have been there for us the last few days. Thank you to those that rushed to the hospital to be with Renae during this time, all the calls and texts...we can't thank you enough. We feel your thoughts and prayers!

As many of you know, Gary had a triple bypass surgery on Monday April 3rd, his birthday. This was proactive - he had not suffered a heart attack but it needed to be done and he was a strong candidate.

The actual surgery went well, however, when it was time to wean him from the bypass machine, he suffered pulmonary edema and his lungs quickly filled with fluid.

He has spent the last 4 days on life support, in Grand Forks, waiting for a MedEvac team and transport to a Level One trauma center. This was an extremely difficult, complicated process. We had to find a trauma center that would accept him, an available transport team, and then wait out a blizzard that blanketed the Midwest and shut down air travel.

One vital piece of equipment is an ECMO machine. An ECMO requires a specialist to be staffed 24/7 to monitor vital signs and perform care. Grand Forks was able to support him short term but didn't have enough skilled specialists...this is one of the reasons for needing to be transferred. Utah specializes in this.

Thursday morning, news came that Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, was sending a team! It was the answer to our prayers! They allowed Renae to travel on the Life Flight Jet and his children, Steven and Becky, are on their way to join her.

We know Gary is in the best hands in SLC and ask for your continued prayers and support. We’ve been told by doctors that this will be a long process and it is expected that he will remain there for the next several months.

The first step is to wean him from the ECMO machine and assess what long-term effects will remain.

Renae will be traveling back and forth from Grand Forks and will need support with airline travel, temporary housing and lost wages - not to mention the overwhelming cost of acute medical care.

We would be grateful for any contribution you can offer Gary and his family...even if it's a quick prayer.

If you prefer to Venmo, you can use: @renaejopp

Renae Jopp/Gary Iverson

2650 26th Ave S #303

Grand Forks, ND 58201

We send our love!

Steven, Becky and Renae

UPDATE *** Gary remains critical, but stable. Last evening, they did another Angiogram and were successfully able to place a stent in one of the grafts that had partially collapsed. They also replaced the balloon pump. He continues to be on the ECMO, dialysis, the balloon pump, and ventilator. He remains unconscious and non responsive. Tomorrow, they’ve scheduled a CT Scan to assess brain function. We are praying that he will regain consciousness soon, and his dependence on these incredible life-sustaining machines will lesson. We know he has our army of friends and family routing for him. THANK YOU!!!