We had several weeks of reprieve before Brad was shocked by his implanted defibrillator at home and back in ICU. This time, he was airlifted to the Heart Institute in Atlanta where an amazing team of medical professionals have worked tirelessly ever since to keep him with us. Unfortunately, despite finding the top doctors in the field and Brad undergoing exhaustive testing (including a heart biopsy), there was no explanation to why this continued to happen. Over the next few months new medications were tried and Brad underwent an ablation. We just kept praying that each episode would be the last and that we could finally stop living in fear of the next shock. We desperately wanted our lives back! We had a few weeks of reprieve over the summer and we tried to enjoy each day to the fullest.

We had a special family weekend celebrating Peyton’s ring ceremony and started looking forward to the holidays. And then on October 24th, he went into VFIB again and was once again airlifted to the Institute. After enduring 202 shocks over the previous year, his heart just finally gave up and the doctors could not stabilize him. Brad was placed on life support and we were informed that he was the “sickest patient in the entire hospital of ICU cardiac cases”. They were going to attempt shunt surgery to keep him on ECMO so he could be placed on the transplant registry, but were very concerned that he wouldn’t survive it. We were devastated. Just absolutely numb, angry and terrified. The previous year had been absolutely crippling at times and this was our biggest fear. It just seemed so unfair. But God had answered our prayers each time over the past year and brought Brad back to us. Now God was asking us to continue to be faithful this one HUGE, final time in this journey. We are blessed to have the two most amazing sons. They have carried us through when we have needed it the most. God’s grace had Peyton home to save his father on that first fateful New Year’s day and he has been by our side each episode as he finishes his senior year at the Citadel. Preston’s faith has been unwavering- a well that we have drawn from in many of the harder times. When he heard the prognosis before the shunt he said, “No matter what happens, life is just a preface to our story. Eternity is so much more than we can even imagine.” We had to completely give this over to God and place Brad in His hands.

Brad miraculously survived the shunt and was placed at the top of the transplant list. Despite a rare blood type, we received the news that a donor had been found just two days later! We are so grateful to that donor, now our angel, and ask for continued prayers for their family. The new heart was successfully transplanted on Saturday the 29th. We have had a few post-op complications, but the heart is strong and Brad is such a warrior! His love for us has never allowed him to give up and I am so grateful to him. He walked just 3 days later! Each day we have little wins and hope that he can come home for good next week.

We have a long road ahead but with our boundless faith in God’s grace, Brad’s amazing spirit and love for his family, the strength of my boys (my rocks), and the wonderful support of our amazing family and friends- we will come through this!!!!

As a former Marine and federal air traffic controller, Brad is blessed with wonderful insurance coverage (medical bills exceeded a million BEFORE the transplant) that will cover the majority, but we are anticipating months of recovery. Our jobs have been so wonderful at accommodating us during this difficult time, but obviously cannot provide unlimited PTO. We are asking for help to defray the cost of deductibles and months without salary. We are also working on having CPR training becoming part of the curriculum at both public and private schools starting in middle school. We have made some progress and will keep you posted! So many lives could be saved!!! We couldn’t have made it through this year without your love and support!
Thank you!!

We are also striving to raise awareness about the lifesaving impact of organ donation. Please consider registering to become a donor and supporting this wonderful organization!

www.donatelife.net

Brad has chosen to fundraise for Help Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for contributors. Contributors can be sure donations will be used to pay or reimburse medical and related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Give button.

For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.

Thank you for your support!