Supporting TJ Bruce’s road to recovery
Donation protected
TJ began his battle with COVID-19 shortly after Christmas, when he, just as many others before him, tested positive for the disease. As an essential worker, he began a two week quarantine, and managed to experience some relief with the assistance of an inhaler. However, the ever-elusive symptoms of COVID were complicated due to his years-long struggle with a rare debilitating food allergy known as Alpha Gal Syndrome.
Just a little about TJ's pre-existing condition of Alpha Gal:
TJ was diagnosed with Alpha Gal that came from a tick bite in July 2018. This diagnosis only came after he was unable to read a stop sign one day. He visited a doctor to determine the reason for the issue with his vision, as well as the tick bite that was still present under his arm despite a month of time elapsed. A blood test revealed both Alpha Gal and a blood glucose level of 422 (diabetes seemingly brought on by the Alpha Gal). His life changed almost overnight, as his entire diet had to be radically change due to severe inflammatory reactions to most meats, as well as products that include traces of mammal biproducts.
Being a self-proclaimed grillmaster, this disease was devastating. But over time, TJ learned how to master new recipes, and he found purpose in networking with others who shared this disease. He just loved exchanging information, ideas, and recipes with others in the Alpha Gal community. He even began an Alpha Gal Only group on Facebook, which has grown and is incredibly active. It is his passion to help others with Alpha Gal thrive.
The compilation of two devastating diseases left TJ incredibly vulnerable:
On the night of January 4th, 2021, TJ retired to bed around midnight. His wife, Alannah, woke up the next morning and noticed that something wasn't right. TJ was unresponsive, but still breathing, so Alannah immediately called 911. Paramedics rushed TJ to Mercy Hospital in Rogers, AR where he was admitted to the emergency room and placed on a ventilator, clearly in shock. After a battery of tests, physicians determined that he suffered a seizure during the night, resulting in a low oxygen brain injury that has left him mentally non-responsive. He was initially placed on a ventilator and later received a tracheotomy and a feeding tube.
Over the next few days, TJ was brought off of sedation, however, sadly he did not wake up as we had hoped. He was treated over the next 30 days for COVID and pneumonia, and continuously evaluated by a number of neurologists, where the consensus was to wait and see if TJ would make a full recovery.
After TJ was physically stabilized, he was transferred to Regency Hospital in Springdale, AR, an acute care long term hospital. At Regency, he's been undergoing occupational and physical therapy regularly while weaning off the ventilator. Aside from the physical therapy, however, this facility is not equipped to give him any specialized therapy for his brain injury. Reaching the end of his time with Regency, TJ now needs to transfer to another facility.
After much prayerful consideration and deliberation with the family, we have decided that the best hope for TJ is transferring to Hermann Memorial in Houston, TX. Their TIRR rehab program is one of only a few in the country that provide brain rehabilitation with tremendous success. In light of some signs of physical response to pain, we remain hopeful that he will experience a recovery with the expertise of this new facility. We are excited about this opportunity for TJ, and grateful that his insurance is going to cover a large portion of the expense (out of network). Even with the miracle we are praying for, his journey of rehabilitation will be just the beginning of meaningful recovery.
The outpouring of support for TJ and the rest of the family during these dark days have provided hope and comfort. So many of you have asked how to help, especially with the financial burden. Although insurance covers the bulk of the medical bills, there are still the copays/deductibles, travel expenses, and lost wages from time off (both for Alannah & TJ). Those expenses are going to grow now that TJ is shifting to out-of-network care and Alannah will be visiting him as much as possible.
With your help, these donations will be used to help support TJ's full recovery by covering any out-of-network copays, deductibles, or fees. Any amounts above and beyond that will help cover the cost of transportation and extended stay in Houston for Alannah, as well as additional unforseen expenses that arise when making a huge transition such as this. We are all pitching in to reduce the financial burden on TJ and Alannah during and after this tumultuous time.
Thank you so much for your help, and we ask for your prayers in addition to any financial support you can provide.
Just a little about TJ's pre-existing condition of Alpha Gal:
TJ was diagnosed with Alpha Gal that came from a tick bite in July 2018. This diagnosis only came after he was unable to read a stop sign one day. He visited a doctor to determine the reason for the issue with his vision, as well as the tick bite that was still present under his arm despite a month of time elapsed. A blood test revealed both Alpha Gal and a blood glucose level of 422 (diabetes seemingly brought on by the Alpha Gal). His life changed almost overnight, as his entire diet had to be radically change due to severe inflammatory reactions to most meats, as well as products that include traces of mammal biproducts.
Being a self-proclaimed grillmaster, this disease was devastating. But over time, TJ learned how to master new recipes, and he found purpose in networking with others who shared this disease. He just loved exchanging information, ideas, and recipes with others in the Alpha Gal community. He even began an Alpha Gal Only group on Facebook, which has grown and is incredibly active. It is his passion to help others with Alpha Gal thrive.
The compilation of two devastating diseases left TJ incredibly vulnerable:
On the night of January 4th, 2021, TJ retired to bed around midnight. His wife, Alannah, woke up the next morning and noticed that something wasn't right. TJ was unresponsive, but still breathing, so Alannah immediately called 911. Paramedics rushed TJ to Mercy Hospital in Rogers, AR where he was admitted to the emergency room and placed on a ventilator, clearly in shock. After a battery of tests, physicians determined that he suffered a seizure during the night, resulting in a low oxygen brain injury that has left him mentally non-responsive. He was initially placed on a ventilator and later received a tracheotomy and a feeding tube.
Over the next few days, TJ was brought off of sedation, however, sadly he did not wake up as we had hoped. He was treated over the next 30 days for COVID and pneumonia, and continuously evaluated by a number of neurologists, where the consensus was to wait and see if TJ would make a full recovery.
After TJ was physically stabilized, he was transferred to Regency Hospital in Springdale, AR, an acute care long term hospital. At Regency, he's been undergoing occupational and physical therapy regularly while weaning off the ventilator. Aside from the physical therapy, however, this facility is not equipped to give him any specialized therapy for his brain injury. Reaching the end of his time with Regency, TJ now needs to transfer to another facility.
After much prayerful consideration and deliberation with the family, we have decided that the best hope for TJ is transferring to Hermann Memorial in Houston, TX. Their TIRR rehab program is one of only a few in the country that provide brain rehabilitation with tremendous success. In light of some signs of physical response to pain, we remain hopeful that he will experience a recovery with the expertise of this new facility. We are excited about this opportunity for TJ, and grateful that his insurance is going to cover a large portion of the expense (out of network). Even with the miracle we are praying for, his journey of rehabilitation will be just the beginning of meaningful recovery.
The outpouring of support for TJ and the rest of the family during these dark days have provided hope and comfort. So many of you have asked how to help, especially with the financial burden. Although insurance covers the bulk of the medical bills, there are still the copays/deductibles, travel expenses, and lost wages from time off (both for Alannah & TJ). Those expenses are going to grow now that TJ is shifting to out-of-network care and Alannah will be visiting him as much as possible.
With your help, these donations will be used to help support TJ's full recovery by covering any out-of-network copays, deductibles, or fees. Any amounts above and beyond that will help cover the cost of transportation and extended stay in Houston for Alannah, as well as additional unforseen expenses that arise when making a huge transition such as this. We are all pitching in to reduce the financial burden on TJ and Alannah during and after this tumultuous time.
Thank you so much for your help, and we ask for your prayers in addition to any financial support you can provide.
Organizer and beneficiary
Levi Davenport
Organizer
Satellite Beach, FL
Alannah Bruce
Beneficiary