Help Terry, 2x Purple Heart Vietnam Combat Veteran

Hi, my name is Trevor Brain, and I’m raising funds to help cover medical expenses on behalf of my 75-year-old father, Terry Brain, who is fighting for his life against a serious pneumonia infection in the ICU (intensive care unit) at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in Scotland. 

He recently underwent surgery to drain off the mucus, pus and fluid that had accumulated on his right lung as a result of the infection. When the doctors went in, they discovered things were worse than they could tell from scans and tests alone. Infection has spread through his chest and we are anxiously waiting on tests to confirm if it has entered his bloodstream. Where we hoped my dad might be well on his way to recovery, we now realize it is a much longer and uncertain road ahead. 

Uncertain both in terms of his outcome and the medical bills steadily piling up. 

My parents are not citizens of the United Kingdom; we were in country visiting my dad’s family for the first time in almost two decades and vacationing. My parents purchased basic travel insurance, but it only covers up to $20,000 of medical expenses. After a week in the ICU, numerous rounds of bloodwork, scans, now a surgery and “weeks” of recovery ahead according to RIE’s doctors, that threshold has swiftly been surpassed. 

Both of my parents are retired United States Postal Service employees receiving Medicare and US military Veteran medical benefits. My dad has 100% veteran disability. Despite this, Medicare and VA care do not extend outside US borders unless directly related to his disability. 

In other words, we are on our own. 

We need help. All funds contributed will go directly toward paying down Terry’s mounting medical bills and all the rest to come. 

Let me tell you more about my extraordinary dad and why you should help him in his time of need. 

British by birth, my dad is a naturalized citizen of the USA and has lived there since he was just shy of two years old. It had been 18 years since he last visited his extended family who still reside in England. 

My wife, Laura, is due in early February with our second child, a boy, who will be Terry’s first grandson. We decided it was the perfect time to take my dad back to visit his family. All five of us—myself, Terry, my mom Ann, Laura and our daughter—made the journey. 

We all picked up run-of-the-mill respiratory infections on the flight over. By the end of our first week in-country, all of us were starting to clear up, except my dad. Dad’s symptoms just didn’t seem to want to let go of him. It soon became clear that we were dealing with more than just a head cold. 

We took him to the emergency room and he was diagnosed with pneumonia, his second occurrence in about 19 years, which makes his current case even more life-threatening. 

I mentioned that Dad has 100% veteran disability; he is a Vietnam War combat veteran with two Purple Hearts. The first was earned when he was shot in the head, the rim of his helmet narrowly deflecting the bullet, while the second came after a mortar round struck a bunker near him. Shrapnel tore through his abdomen, resulting in medevac and emergency surgery that took what remained of his left kidney and sent him home for good. 

The doctors have said that lone kidney is under extra duress trying to process the infection that is trying to overtake his body. 

My dad survived a war and PTSD and has spent the rest of his life to date serving his country as a child of God, humble postal worker, devoted father, husband and family man, friend to many, and has continued to be an outspoken advocate and support person for veterans of all wars through his involvement in various groups including counseling groups, contributing his story to veteran anthologies and speaking at local schools about his experiences. 

He is a vibrant, loving, upbeat 50+ year member of his Pasco, Washington community who enjoys spending time with his family including babysitting his granddaughter, riding his pedal bike along Tri-Cities’ Sacagawea Heritage and Waterfront Trails, game hunting, snapping wildlife photography, antler hunting, hiking, spending time with friends he’s known since grade school, and walking down to play Bingo at Sneakers Irish Pub in Pasco with his pals. Even in the face of adversity, he keeps his sense of humor about him and always has a kind word to offer and helping hands to lend. 

He is now once again fighting to stay alive, this time on the battlefield of his own body. I would not be alive today if my dad hadn’t survived his previous battles. I want him to live to meet my son and be able to watch his two grandkids grow up. 

Please help us bring our beloved dad, husband, brother, Papa, friend and brother-in-arms home.