Patrick Burshia's Funeral Fund

Introduction

My name is Erin Gail Ellis. Approximately 13 years ago, I moved my son and daughter to Billings, Montana. We needed to live in a place where school settings were more appropriate to my son's special needs. After trying a couple of schools, we received funding for my son to go to the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch (YBGR) Academy. After weeks of driving my son 30 minutes out to the Ranch and 30 minutes to pick him up, I gave into my son, who desperately wanted to ride the bus like the other boys. I may or may not have followed the bus the entire way to the Ranch that first day.

 

Consequently, the same afternoon I waited for my son to get off the bus. He did not get off the bus, and the bus never showed up in front of my house. So, like every calm, rational parent, I absolutely panicked and freaked out. After several frantic phone calls between the school and the bus drivers, a phone call comes in from an unknown number. I answered the call, and my son said, "Hey mom, what are you doing?" I don't quite remember what I said next, but I eventually asked him where he was and what he was doing. My son told me that he got off the bus at his best friend's house and was playing video games. And could he please spend the night? The answer was no, but I got the address and went down to meet his new best friend and mother.

 

Meeting Patrick

This is the day that I met Patrick Burshia. The boys were outside to meet me, and Patrick introduced himself to me. Patrick was so sweet and polite. He gave me a wonderful hug, and he had an adorable smile with just the slightest hint of mischievousness in it. And you just knew that he got away with a lot with that smile. And throughout the years, I know I gave into him many times when he smiled and asked for something. The second time Patrick came to stay at our house, he called me Mom. Patrick has been part of our family and has called me mom ever since. Patrick had a few moms out there, and I was lucky enough to be one of them!

 

Getting COVID

Patrick typically gets a hold of me with a text that starts with hey, ma, or hey mom. And on August 20th, I get this text from Patrick. Patrick was convinced that he only had a cold, and he did not have Covid. Patrick progressively got worse and was admitted into Billings Clinic Hospital on August 22. Patrick stayed positive for almost the entirety of his hospital stay. Patrick's lungs were not getting any better, and he was transferred to the ICU unit on August 26. Once he was in the ICU, you could tell he was having difficulty breathing and getting the gunk out of his lungs.

 

By August 4th, I was very fearful for Patrick, knowing what I knew about Covid-19, the Delta strain, and how long he had been in the ICU. Patrick was pretty convinced that he was just about ready to go back to a regular unit and be released from the ICU. Kimarie Patrick’s Mom and I figured out later that Patrick did not want to scare or make us sad. On August 5th, Patrick's doctors were having serious conversations with him about being put on a ventilator. That evening Patrick and I discussed things he wanted to be brought up to the unit the next day when I visited. I also needed to talk to Patrick's doctors and possibly request a second opinion on Patrick's plan of care. This would be one of Patrick's last texts to me.

 

Being put on the Ventilator

The next day, I prepared my questions for the doctors and gathered contraband (Gatorades, gummy bears, sour patch kids, snacks…)  I would smuggle into Patrick in the ICU, which I assumed he was not allowed to have. I kept trying to get a hold of him, but no one was answering the phone. I was so afraid! I sent a text telling him that he was loved, not knowing he would ever see it. It became emergent in the middle of the night that Patrick be intubated and put on a ventilator. I do not believe that I can truly express in words the absolute heart-wrenching roller coaster of emotions and stress that we as a group and family went through for the next 14 days while having to make critical life decisions for Patrick. He was only 24 years old, and he did not expect to make those kinds of decisions before he got sick.

 

Patrick’s son’s mother and family came together with Kimarie, myself, and Patrick's best friend Darian and became Patrick's support. We were told several times that they did not think he would make it through the day or make it through the night. And then he did, and we were told it again... It seemed like endless meetings and updates and discussions and decisions. It was just so difficult and so very heartbreaking! Kimarie and I were up in the middle of the night of the 17th talking, and we were in a positive place. We thought we saw some good things that we had not seen from his condition in quite a while.

 

 One Peaceful Night

I believe now that we were given one peaceful night's sleep before we would have to face one of the most challenging days of our lives. The next day would be Patrick's last day. After the hardest decision was made on the 18th,  Kimarie and  Darian decided to be inside the room with Patrick. And I was on the other side of the glass so that we could be as close as possible as he passed.

 

What the Funding is For

Unfortunately, like many families who have struggled during this pandemic, including myself, Patrick's passing happened after his family had gone through some financial hardships. This GoFudMe Page's purpose is to get help to fulfill Patrick and his family's memorial wishes and ask for funding to cover the costs for the following

 

A dedicated bank account has been created solely for this fundraiser for Patrick Burshia so that all money and costs can be accounted for. If the fundraising falls short, the family will reprioritize their wishes. If this fundraiser exceeds the initial goal or has leftover money, the funds will be used to start a trust or scholarship fund for Patrick's three-year-old son Lincoln.