LCpl Branden was diagnosed with heart failure in the Fall of 2007 and has just received an implant until such time a donor becomes available. He is being kept sedated so his body takes the least stress possible. Please join us in supporting this family.
Update Mid-November 2007: Well the weekend brought big changes for Branden! On Saturday he was only able to breathe 35 minutes on his own and was put back on the respirator, but Sunday morning he was taken off and breathed on his own enough that the Drs felt he could be off the respirator while still being monitored in surgical ICU. He was able to walk around the nurses station in ICU, but was exhausted afterwards and the nurse said he probably overdid it a bit for the first walk. They expect a group of maybe 10-15 (family, friends, and Marines) for Thanksgiving and if Branden is in a room they hope that he can come down to the cafeteria (where dinner will be set up) in a wheelchair for a short period of time. Things are definitely looking much more positive!
The tough part started yesterday when Branden was fully conscious and finally able to talk. What I wasn't aware of until yesterday was that Branden had no idea what has happened to him. He crashed quickly and was unconscious when he was life-flighted, where he was immediately placed on life support and the decision to do surgery to insert the heart pump was made. He will have the pump when he is able to leave the hospital, be evaluated in 30 days and possibly go on the Stage 1 transplant list (1st priority) at that time. If they see improvement in the heart from the pump, they will wait and evaluate in another 30 days. There is still a slight chance that the heart can heal, but the Drs realistically are not thinking that will happen.
Update December 1 2007(from Mom): Thank you all for continued prayer and the cards...some real warriors at this site!!! Branden is walking with a cane now...up to 4 laps around the nurses station!! They are shooting for tuesday to send him home...he's a little nervous about that but he'll have home health nurses and physical therapists to assist him. Then we wait for about 2-3 months to see if the heart heals. He is just doing so great. Gods hand has just been present in all of this. Thank you again and please pray for that heart of his to heal!!!!
Love you all so much.
Update: 12/4/07 Branden and his wife have been moved into a new home that can accommodate all of his equipment. They will monitor his progress for a while and then re-evaluate him.
Update: 12/13/07 Branden is now having trouble with his pancreas and is losing 1-2 pounds daily. Please keep those prayers coming.
Update: 12/30/07 excerpts from a post Branden wrote himself! "You have all shown amazing support to me and my family. I don't know how I can thank you for all that you have done for us.
Thank you for all the beautiful cards. Thank you doesn't seem adequate for all you've done. We will always remember our first Christmas together as one shared by all of you.
I am getting stronger every day and while my heart has not shown improvement I am feeling better."
Update: Feb 2008 Branden will be put on the donor list Feb 8 at 1pm. His Mom is asking for more prayers.
Update 3/27/08 Branden is getting his new heart as I write this. I will post again as soon as I hear.
Update 3/28/08 from our volunteer: "Branden's out of surgery, everything went well. They will keep him sedated for the next couple of days, but everything looks great! The doctor said it was the best heart possible, it was a young athletic heart. God bless the parents that made this decision, Branden's beautiful smile and sense of humor will be with us as he starts planning for his future."
Update 5/14/08 Mom Posted "Hello all, Please forgive me for being away for so long. Branden is doing fantastic. Better than the doctors even anticipated. He is up and going out, he makes dinner and looks like our old Branden.
Our family is now going through the aftermath of dealing with such a life altering ordeal. The breakdowns seem to still come, apparently this is normal. LOL.
God bless you all and thank you for your continued prayers for our son. I don't know how we would have got through this without your support."
Update: 3/31/2009 Branden is continuing to progress. He may be discharged from the USMC in a few months. He plans to attend college and get a teaching degree.
Update: 6/6/09 Branden has been admitted to the hospital with heart related problems. Please pray that this is only a temporary setback for him.
Update 7/22/09 Branden, is doing great, wants to go to Culinary School when he gets out, his dream is to own his own restaurant by the time he is 36. He is in good spirits, he's going to the Wounded Warriors barracks every day and they are wonderful there! There is a professional surf club that comes out twice a month and takes the guys surfing, he loves taking part in the many activities they provide at the Barracks. Please pray for Branden's continued improvement and strength and send him best wishes!!
Update: 2/18/2010 from our volunteer: Branden is back in the hospital and he might be rejecting the heart he was given a year ago. Please send up some heavy duty prayers that it does not happen.
Update: 2/19/2010 One of our volunteers visited with Branden yesterday. She says it's amazing when you see someone looking so healthy that his life could be in peril. He was asleep the whole time she was there. He's at 20 percent rejection rate, his kidneys are starting to shut down. They are fighting it with anti rejection drugs and will be starting other meds today. Please keep praying.
Update 3/28/2010 Our volunteer visited him yesterday and Branden is not doing well. His heart is only working at 30% and it is difficult for him to talk as he is having trouble breathing.
His wife, dad, and sister were there, had come in Friday night, but are leaving today.
Pray for Branden's strength, stamina and patience and that the Lord heals his heart.
Update: 7/24/2010 We have heard that Branden is out of the hospital. We didn't get much more info than that but it's good news so we thought we'd let you know. When we hear more, you'll be the first to find out.
Branden, the prayers of these folks are working and they will continue. Keep getting better!
Update: 8/12/2010 Branden is moving on up in the world. His heart is well enough for him to continue pursuing his dreams. He's moved to where he can go to school and we expect he will move on with his life shortly. We pray that his problems with the new heart stay in the past so that his future is again bright.
Update: 9/6/2010 Branden is doing well and is now in school. His heart is keeping up with what he has to do so he weathered the rejection scare quite well.
Branden, we wish you the best. Good luck in school and may you have a very bright future!
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Date added to program: 11/13/2007
Date removed from program: 9/6/2010
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