A Fighting Miracle
Briana Mike, a twenty-eight year old mother of three, is a fighter.
On April 30, 2021, Briana was admitted to Shady Grove Hospital in Germantown, Maryland after developing a fever and testing positive for COVID-19. Her case is complicated because she also suffers from Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA), and was pregnant.
As Briana's body was working to fight COVID-19, to her dismay she developed bacterial pneumonia, and COVID pneumonia, and spent the next nine days in Shady Grove's Intensive Care Unit. Unfortunately, her condition deteriorated and she was transported to the University of Maryland Medical System in Baltimore, Maryland on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 9th, and placed on restriction due to COVID-19. She was fighting to be home with her children Azaria (8) and Kalissia (19-months), but they spent that day apart.
On May 11th Briana had an exchange transfusion to treat the acute chest syndrome as a result of her SCA. Doctors were hoping it would help lungs. By the morning of Wednesday, May 12th, Briana needed to be intubated, placed on a ventilator, and is in a medically induced coma. This was decided because she was not getting enough oxygen into her body and her lungs were filled with fluid.
By Monday, May 17th, Briana developed Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome an indicator of lung damage. Following more rounds of medication and other treatment, However her blood pressure dropped and they discovered she developed a blood clot in her femoral right artery and was placed on a heparin drip. By Friday, May 21st, the doctors decided to schedule a C-Section for Monday the, 24th because Briana was placed on a heparin drip, this would allow the doctors deliver the baby in a controlled manner eliminating as must risk possible to Briana and baby.
Monday morning, Briana was prepped for surgery and at 11:00am, Baby Miracle was born. She weighed 4 pounds and 2 ounces. Though her vitals were good, she began experiencing withdrawals from all of the medication Briana was on while in utero. Between Monday and Tuesday Briana and Miracle were stable. However, by the morning of Wednesday, May 26th, Briana's blood pressure dropped significantly, She was bleeding internally and was immediately transfused with 9 units of blood to stabilize her. The doctors were forced to perform an emergency surgery. During surgery, the doctors found a large hematoma holding 1.5 liters of blood in the muscle near her abdomen. They successfully removed the hematoma and embolized the artery, preventing anymore bleeding. No additional clotting was found.
To the doctors surprise, Briana remained stable throughout the procedure.
She continues to fight to return home to her babies, but has a long recovery road ahead of her.
As you can imagine, it is extremely difficult, challenging, frustrating, overwhelming and very emotional to see my child suffer. In addition, I am taking care of her 2 beautiful little girls, and trying to prepare for her new addition before she's discharged. I am reaching out to communities across the world asking if you could support Brian's GoFundMe by making a donation and then sharing it with your network. When she is well enough to return home she will be unable to work and will require additional help and support. I have created this GoFundMe page on Briana and her children's behalf asking for your help to defray the costs of medical bills and her living expenses (food, rent, utilities, etc). Any amount you feel compelled to donate will be helpful and we will forever be grateful! I know that money can be tight, so please know that even $5 helps get closer to our goal! If you have any questions, I will be happy to answer them.
There are miracles all around and Briana’s , family and friends continue to trust in and rely on their faith that Briana will continue to fight, be healed and return home to her children.
Thank you