Help Raise Money for Nathan Runyan's Expenses

On October 11th, 2022, Nate was at home making dinner when he started to feel like something wasn’t right. He took the next few minutes to try and figure out how to make himself feel better. Before long, he decided something wasn’t right and called an ambulance to take him to the local hospital. Before the end of the night, he was transported to Minneapolis where the unthinkable was happening for a 36-year-old who was just going about his day. It was found that his aortic valve was dissected and the value needed to be replaced.

Fast forward a few days and a hospital transfer to Abbott Northwest Heart Center later, the doctors were working around the clock to figure out how to care for his heart and at the same time looking at taking necessary life-saving steps. It was decided that his heart needed the support of an implanted heart pump (LVAD) to give his heart a chance to heal and continue to work as it is supposed to so his second open heart surgery in a week was completed.

The heart pump decision was the difference maker. Since that night in October, the months have been filled with weeks of ICU stays, multiple doctor consultations, ups and downs, milestones and setbacks, missed expectations and miracles beyond all expectations taking place. Which brings us to today.

Currently, Nate is on a steady and consistent path to recovery and healing. He is now leaning into an extended stay at The Courage Kenny Rehab Institute (at Abbott Northwestern) after a grueling 70 days in a hospital bed. Courage Kenny will be his home for the time being where the focus is to work extensively with physical and occupational therapists to regain strength and get back to the normals of life that would allow him to return home.