I am a close friend of Bryan Brown's, and we met two years ago through a social app for neurodivergent people. Over time, I’ve come to know him as an incredibly gentle, intelligent, and kind man who has faced more than his fair share of challenges.

In 2015, Bryan experienced a prolonged period of significant medical crises precipitated by an operation intended to reduce a massive cyst discovered in his brain. Bryan experienced months of intensive care in and out of hospital, during which he endured 3 craniotomies, the placement of a VP shunt for acquired normal pressure hydrocephalus, and the following medical complications: meningitis, encephalitis, subarachnoid hemorrhage, transient ischemic attack, and a period of minimal consciousness (coma). It was considered remarkable that Bryan was able to survive his ordeal.

Bryan required two distinct periods of inpatient brain injury rehabilitation, to relearn basic skills such as walking and swallowing, as well as more significant cognitive rehabilitation. After these events, and despite being recommended to expect to rely on disability income, Bryan experienced a period of prolonged rehabilitation, challenging himself exceptionally hard to reestablish as a highly active and engaged member of his community in Eugene, Oregon. He went on professionally to provide counseling support to individuals in need, and he took pride in both his work as a clinician and in his role in a spiritual community that fostered the development of insight and wellness. Bryan benefited greatly from these experiences and he delighted in being of service to others.

By 2021, Bryan began to experience a significant change in his health, starting with muscle spasms and pain/tension in his back that quickly intensified into frequent uncontrolled body movements, vertigo, sleep disturbances, and apparent seizures. Additionally, Bryan began to experience erratic and impulsive behavioral health issues, including emotional outbursts - he started displaying something like pseudobulbar affect and had episodes of anger and uncontrolled crying that were disproportionate to his intended expression, along with difficulty modulating his facial muscles and the intensity or volume of his voice.

These changes led to increased social isolation and disconnection from his social systems and resulted in his inability to maintain employment. He was encouraged by his healthcare providers to pursue a Social Security Disability Claim, something he attempted to achieve through several years of denials until a final denial was made that rested on a technicality - the severity of his condition was not demonstrated in medical documentation as significant enough until after the period he was last insured for benefits.

Today, Bryan continues to experience a decline in his health, and he is now unhoused and facing a lack of shelter entirely within a matter of weeks; he is exhausting his remaining financial resources and has been unable to sustain earning income. Due to his current geographic and social isolation, Bryan is also unable to maintain medical care, including ongoing evaluation and treatment. In addition to having hydrocephalus that requires the continued monitoring of his VP shunt, Bryan's current medical diagnoses include Functional Neurological Disorder, Autism, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. His brain scans reveal multiple areas of scarring; it is unclear if this is only an outcome of his previous injuries, or if ongoing damage has occurred.

One of the most pressing concerns medically for Bryan, is that over the last several years, his symptoms have appeared to progress; they have included periods of significant weakness, vertigo, sleep disturbances, muscle spasms/cramps, tremors, neuronal hyperexcitability, hyperreflexia, intermittent dropping of objects, extreme fatigue, loss of balance, difficulty walking, pathological yawning, respiratory issues, and swallowing/speech difficulties, including thick/slurred speech. Bryan now has what looks like the wasting of the muscles in his neck and jaw. On paper, Bryan's progression of symptoms suggests or mimics an auto-immune condition, a motor neuron disease or other neurodegenerative disease process, or damage from additional cerebrovascular events.

Bryan's behavioral difficulties have stabilized and while he has occasional cognitive impairment, mainly because of his fatigue, he remains an intelligent, highly aware, and resilient person who has a good and humorous attitude. He is, however, stressed as a result of his isolation and worsening health. He does express fear over the possibility he will now be forced to face poor health while living unsheltered and alone; under these circumstances, Bryan's condition will likely rapidly worsen.

Bryan has experienced escalating verbal, emotional/psychological, and physical abuse perpetuated by those he relied on for safety and care over recent years; he has endured ongoing bullying, criticism, blame, suspicion and denial regarding his presentation of symptoms, ultimately causing him increased difficulty in accessing appropriate and timely services, and exposing him to increasingly high risk situations and inappropriate medical treatments. During this period, Bryan was exploited, beaten, and strangled. It's necessary that Bryan not expect to rely on family support for housing or advocacy, and he will benefit from generosity where he can find it. Bryan is a vulnerable person and he should be surrounded by people who are willing to advocate for his health and happiness.

This is an emergency fundraiser seeking immediate financial support to ensure that the worst outcomes for Bryan are avoided. Funds raised will cover the ongoing expense of shelter, transportation to medical providers, any costs associated with medical care, and basic necessities. Additionally, funds will be used for Bryan to relocate closer to friends who can provide help and support, especially if his condition further limits his mobility. Bryan would attempt this relocation as soon as possible.

As a result of your donation, Bryan will achieve a foundation to eventually access higher quality or specialized medical facilities for additional evaluation. This will include further attempts to access financial disability support so he can meet longer term basic needs. I especially would like to see that Bryan can receive higher quality evaluation of his condition so appropriate and effective intervention can begin ASAP. If Bryan's diagnoses remain unchanged, he will still require rehabilitation and disability services.

My hope is that Bryan can experience safety and have the best quality of life possible. Bryan remains hopeful that he may be able to rehabilitate to a degree that makes self-support and some level of independence possible for him, even if his mobility becomes severely limited; historically, his healthcare providers have expressed mixed opinions on what Bryan should expect to achieve, and Bryan is trying to be realistic about the state of his condition. His most recent primary physician has indicated that he may be facing the eventual need for residential care.

All funds raised will be accessed by and go to Bryan directly, and will be used to help him maintain general living, necessities, and medical expenses (food, shelter, doctor visits, medicine, etc.) while we attempt to find stability for him.

Please consider the significance your donation will have at this critical time and share this need with others who may be able to contribute.