Love + Support for Andy Berry
Donation protected
To all of you who know (and to know is to LOVE) Andy Berry, we want to share the details of his current medical emergency. We'd like to start out by thanking everyone for your thoughts, prayers, and messages at this time.
Last Wednesday night, Andy started experiencing what he describes as standard but intense flu symptoms. By early Saturday morning, he noticed some burst blood vessels/lesions on his hands and feet and immediately got himself to the hospital where he was admitted into the Emergency Room. Upon arrival, it was determined that Andy was in severe Sepsis. After 24+ hours of tests, CT scans, MRI's and an EchoCardioGram, Andy was diagnosed with a serious blood infection, Sepsis, a very large cyst covering 80% of his spleen, and most importantly, Endocarditis which is an infection of the Aortic valve and its lining. His infection is an aggressive strain of Staph (Staphylococcus Aureus) and by Sunday morning it had spread throughout Andy's body. Doctors told him that if he had waited another day he would not have survived the infection.
As a healthy, active 47 year old man, it's a mystery to Andy and his doctors where this infection came from. Andy was immediately put on 3 different "big gun" antibiotics via an intravenous line, in an effort to begin the fight to contain the infection. We have a team of Specialists from many areas including Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Infectious Disease, Orthopedics, Podiatry, Pathology and Ophthalmology, tracking Andy closely. Our number one hurdle is to get this infection out of his blood stream, which is monitored in several ways, but most importantly we need to see a constant and consistent stream of negative blood cultures coming back. If this does not happen, Andy and his team of doctors will have to consider further options such as Aortic Heart Valve transplant as there is a 2-3mm bacteria referred to as "vegetation" on his Aortic Valve, causing a minimal amount of leaking. Risks include cardiac arrest, stroke and congestive heart failure. The spleen will likely be removed but that will be at another phase if/when Andy is entirely recovered from this infection. One of the phenomena of Andy's Endocarditis is something called Splinter Hemorrhaging currently in his right hand and left foot which make it nearly impossible to walk.
At this point in time, even if the cultures consistently come back negative, Andy is facing a minimum of 6-8 weeks of constant IV antibiotics which allow him to be mobile but entirely unable to work. His recovery period is indefinite and it will likely be a few months before he can get back to work. While there are infinite details and factors to consider medically, we as Andy's family are deeply concerned about his well being - which absolutely includes his mental and emotional health. Being a self-employed photographer, the reality of having no income (during his busiest season of the year) is of a paramount concern for Andy. While Andy does have basic health insurance it will not cover 100% of the cost, which is a stress that Andy just cannot afford to face right now nor during his recovery period.
In making this Go Fund Me page, it's no wonder that we can't find any selfies or many portraits of Andy because he is always the one behind the lens, the artist who sees the beauties and realities of life and shares them through his photography. Andy has created and captured endless amounts of special moments for so many of us - parties, portraits, weddings, memorials, exotic adventures, births - all of which are a true manifestation of his love and real unconditional support of his clients, friends and family.
We'll say it once more, to know Andy is to love Andy. We are asking you today to please take a moment to think of him, allow yourself to smile as you remember a sincere way that Andy has positively impacted your life, and then please say a prayer or send your best vibes to help him fight this infection, heal, recuperate, and hopefully, come back better than ever to keep making the world a happier place.
If you are able to make a contribution to Andy's Go Fund Me, which will directly support him during the long road ahead, we would be forever grateful for your generosity. Any amount helps, and most of all, will allow Andy to focus entirely on his health and wellness.
With love,
Bonnie, Melissa, Katharine, and Molly
Last Wednesday night, Andy started experiencing what he describes as standard but intense flu symptoms. By early Saturday morning, he noticed some burst blood vessels/lesions on his hands and feet and immediately got himself to the hospital where he was admitted into the Emergency Room. Upon arrival, it was determined that Andy was in severe Sepsis. After 24+ hours of tests, CT scans, MRI's and an EchoCardioGram, Andy was diagnosed with a serious blood infection, Sepsis, a very large cyst covering 80% of his spleen, and most importantly, Endocarditis which is an infection of the Aortic valve and its lining. His infection is an aggressive strain of Staph (Staphylococcus Aureus) and by Sunday morning it had spread throughout Andy's body. Doctors told him that if he had waited another day he would not have survived the infection.
As a healthy, active 47 year old man, it's a mystery to Andy and his doctors where this infection came from. Andy was immediately put on 3 different "big gun" antibiotics via an intravenous line, in an effort to begin the fight to contain the infection. We have a team of Specialists from many areas including Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Infectious Disease, Orthopedics, Podiatry, Pathology and Ophthalmology, tracking Andy closely. Our number one hurdle is to get this infection out of his blood stream, which is monitored in several ways, but most importantly we need to see a constant and consistent stream of negative blood cultures coming back. If this does not happen, Andy and his team of doctors will have to consider further options such as Aortic Heart Valve transplant as there is a 2-3mm bacteria referred to as "vegetation" on his Aortic Valve, causing a minimal amount of leaking. Risks include cardiac arrest, stroke and congestive heart failure. The spleen will likely be removed but that will be at another phase if/when Andy is entirely recovered from this infection. One of the phenomena of Andy's Endocarditis is something called Splinter Hemorrhaging currently in his right hand and left foot which make it nearly impossible to walk.
At this point in time, even if the cultures consistently come back negative, Andy is facing a minimum of 6-8 weeks of constant IV antibiotics which allow him to be mobile but entirely unable to work. His recovery period is indefinite and it will likely be a few months before he can get back to work. While there are infinite details and factors to consider medically, we as Andy's family are deeply concerned about his well being - which absolutely includes his mental and emotional health. Being a self-employed photographer, the reality of having no income (during his busiest season of the year) is of a paramount concern for Andy. While Andy does have basic health insurance it will not cover 100% of the cost, which is a stress that Andy just cannot afford to face right now nor during his recovery period.
In making this Go Fund Me page, it's no wonder that we can't find any selfies or many portraits of Andy because he is always the one behind the lens, the artist who sees the beauties and realities of life and shares them through his photography. Andy has created and captured endless amounts of special moments for so many of us - parties, portraits, weddings, memorials, exotic adventures, births - all of which are a true manifestation of his love and real unconditional support of his clients, friends and family.
We'll say it once more, to know Andy is to love Andy. We are asking you today to please take a moment to think of him, allow yourself to smile as you remember a sincere way that Andy has positively impacted your life, and then please say a prayer or send your best vibes to help him fight this infection, heal, recuperate, and hopefully, come back better than ever to keep making the world a happier place.
If you are able to make a contribution to Andy's Go Fund Me, which will directly support him during the long road ahead, we would be forever grateful for your generosity. Any amount helps, and most of all, will allow Andy to focus entirely on his health and wellness.
With love,
Bonnie, Melissa, Katharine, and Molly
Organizer and beneficiary
Molly Berry
Organizer
Napa, CA
Andrew Berry
Beneficiary
