JOIN BRIAN MAYNARD’S FIGHT

Over the holidays Brian was struck by a devastating spinal cord stroke, a rare form of stroke that accounts for just 1.25% of all strokes and has left Brian paralyzed from the neck down, unable to move or breathe on his own.

Brian’s life was changed in an instant and he’s gone from school and friends and art and music to a hospital room, connected to the machines that are keeping him alive.

And the mantra on the board in Brian’s hospital room reads, “I am strong. I will conquer.”

For everyone lucky enough to know Brian and to be his friend, you know he is the best of us, the one who is always here for us. He’s the youngest in his group of college friends, but he’s the “Dad” of the group – on camping trips he’s the one who brings the 10-person tent, the grill and the meat. He’s the responsible one. Brian loves to sing, he knows every word of every classic rock song. He loves the beach, he snowboards in the winter, he’s focused and organized and determined. But maybe most importantly, Brian is a singular talent – he’s an amazing artist and his goal is to work in animation and gaming. When his group of friends from college visited in ICU earlier this week, he shared with them that when he became numb he was scared but while he was losing feeling he was praying to God that he wouldn’t lose his right hand – the hand he draws with.

The hard news is that 30 to 40% of people show improvement after a spinal cord stroke. Brian was just moved from St. George Hospital to the Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital in Salt Lake City. Before the move his Mom, Fiona, said he was mouthing the words to his favorite Jason Mraz song,

I won't give up on us

Even if the skies get rough

I'm giving you all my love

I'm still looking up

Brian has a long road ahead. He and his family will have extraordinary expenses for hospitalization, rehabilitation, equipment, therapy and more. Thank you for your love and prayers and support, we are grateful for anything you can do to support Brian and his family – Bruce, Fiona, and Max.

Let’s help Brian draw again, and everything else.

WHAT HAPPENED

Brian was home for the holidays having breakfast with his family when he felt some stiffness in his neck. He stretched his neck and heard a “pop” and within seconds he began to feel a pain in his chest, then the pain moved to his head. As the numbness spread, he and his parents, Fiona and Bruce, decided to head to the local hospital. On the road from the house the numbness started in his left side. Frightened, Fiona and Bruce called 911 and pulled over for the ambulance to arrive. Brian quickly lost movement in his body and trouble breathing. By the time the ambulance arrived he was barely breathing and his lips started to turn blue, the EMTs placed him on oxygen and rushed Brian to the local hospital. Brian had gone from a totally normal morning at home to being fully paralyzed and not able to breath within an hour.

The local medical team realized quickly that Brian needed urgent specialized care and they loaded him into the medical helicopter for the flight to St. George Hospital. Upon arrival, Brian was assessed and the neurology and critical care teams did everything they could to stabilize Brian and save his life. During a long and tortuous week, Brian, Fiona, Bruce, and Max learned the Brian had suffered a debilitating and rare spinal cord stroke. Although he couldn’t speak, Brian was able to communicate by raising his eyebrows identify letters. He spelled out to his doctors, “I will never give up.”

Thankfully, Brian’s cognitive function is fully intact. He was able to visit with his good friends from the University of Utah and communicate through deflating the balloon in his trach. He was able to tell them his story. His brain is healthy and strong, let’s help him fight to get his body there, too.