On Saturday, April 18th, Katelyn woke up with an excruciating headache and began vomiting. At the time, it seemed like it could be a severe migraine or a virus, so she stayed home to rest. Unfortunately, this was the beginning of something far more serious.
On Sunday, Katelyn suffered a seizure and was rushed to the hospital in Gainesville. When she arrived, her condition was critical. Her blood pressure had dropped to 80/60, her heart rate was in the 40s, and her pupils were unequal in size — all signs of significant neurological distress.
After emergency testing and monitoring, doctors delivered devastating news late Sunday night: Katelyn had suffered a right frontal lobe stroke caused by a ruptured brain aneurysm. This type of hemorrhagic stroke is life-threatening and requires immediate, intensive care.
She was quickly placed into a medically induced coma and put on a ventilator to allow her body and brain to stabilize. Doctors have explained that the next several days are crucial. Right now, the focus is on reducing swelling and allowing her brain to rest. They are monitoring her around the clock for any changes.
The current plan for about a week is to give her brain the best chance to recover from the initial trauma. After that, she will undergo open brain surgery to remove the pooled blood and repair the aneurysm to stop the bleeding. This is a major, high-risk surgery followed by an extensive recovery process.
Katelyn is expected to remain in the hospital for several weeks, and her recovery will continue for months beyond that — including rehabilitation and ongoing medical care. At this time, there are still many unknowns, and her family is taking things one moment at a time.
Katelyn is a loving wife and mother with two babies at home who need her, and her family is doing everything they can to be by her side during this unimaginable time. With her being unable to work and her family focusing on her care, the financial burden is quickly becoming overwhelming.
We are asking for any support you can give. Donations will go toward childcare, household bills, groceries, medical expenses, and other unforeseen costs during her hospital stay and long recovery.
If you are not able to donate, we ask that you please keep Katelyn in your thoughts and prayers. Every message, prayer, and share means more than we can express.
Thank you for standing with Katelyn and her family during this incredibly difficult time.