Brett's Recovery from Traumatic Brain Injury #2

Hi, my name is Jenn Graves. I'm fundraising to help cover bills and aftercare for my very close friend, my brother, Brett Lewis. For 33 years Brett and I have spent more holidays together than anyone else in our lives. He was at the birth of both of my children. He is important to me and he is in trouble.

Many of you know that Brett was assaulted in 2009 and suffered a traumatic brain injury. He still has after effects and financial burden from that.

At some point on the night of January 14th, Brett lost consciousness and was found unresponsive with a swollen head from a brain bleed the next morning. He was rushed to a hospital in Culver City, but his injury was severe enough that he was transferred to a top Neuro Critical Care Unit in Los Angeles.

By Wednesday, Brett had to have an emergency hemicraniectomy. Basically, he had a good sized piece of his skull removed in order to drain the massive blood clot that had formed. He has just been taken off a ventilator and is breathing on his own, which is great.

Obviously Brett won't be able to work for some time. At this point the extent of the damage is unclear. What we do know is that after leaving the hospital he'll be at an acute rehab facility, followed by 24/7 home care before a second skull surgery in 2-3 months.

Brett's family and loved ones on the East Coast are supporting him from afar. But he will have a major financial burden after this.

Brett is funny, smart, a great friend, and a wonderfully crazy uncle. He's a sharp writer. He's neurotic and charming and has the best and worst luck of anyone I've ever known. If you know him at all, he's probably pissed you off. But he's probably also given you one of the best nights of your life. If you don't know him, trust me: he's worth knowing.