Support Tanner's Recovery from Brain AVM Rupture

Thank you for visiting Tanner's page, and for sharing your prayers, your love, and your support in what is most definitely the hardest moment the Pierce family has been through. I am creating this space on behalf of the family to gather funds to support them with medical expenses and basic needs after Tanner experienced a significant brain bleed as a result of a Brain AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation) while on vacation in Lake Chelan.

On Saturday, July 27th at around 2:00pm, Tanner jumped into the lake (actually, he belly flopped on purpose), then swam to shore, got out and walked back up to the beach chairs. Almost immediately, he complained of a horrible headache and feeling nauseous. He was disoriented, unable to stand up or keep his eyes open, began to vomit, became unresponsive, and ultimately seized multiple times. 911 was called, but in the meantime, there were multiple health care providers and good samaritans at the beach who jumped in to help. Once Tanner was in the aid car, he was intubated because he was still trying to throw up, but also still unresponsive. Tanner and Carina (Super Mom!!) arrived at Lake Chelan Health and he was immediately taken to CT where the brain bleed was discovered. They were told he would be airlifted to Harborview and Carina was able to stay with him through the preparation process.

Tanner left Chelan on his first helicopter ride at 6:00 pm, and Dean, Kelty and Carina rushed over to Seattle (but, and I wish this was a joke, not before getting a flat tire on I-90 and setting perhaps a world-record for the fastest tire change ever done by a non-Nascar employee) to be by his side through the whole process. Late that night, Tanner had an External Ventricular Drain (EVD) placed to begin draining the blood from his brain, and had a Craniotomy (partial removal of the skull) to allow the left side of his brain to swell and reduce pressure.

At this moment, the whole Pierce clan are at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle while Tanner goes through various procedures, rests and recovers. Tanner has had various tests preformed, including an angiogram and an MRI, to better assess the AVM. Thankfully, his surgeons have a clear pathway to remove the AVM, and he will have surgery to remove it on Thursday, August 1st. This, while amazing in the long term, will take a major toll on Tanner's acute recovery. Lots more rest, healing and time in the hospital to come, but we are all hopeful for a full and complete recovery! To gather more information and updates on his recovery, please visit Tanner's CaringBridge page.

If you have been blessed enough to have had the opportunity to receive any amount of love from Tanner and the rest of the Pierce family, you know just how much love, light, and radiance that they exude. They are, without a doubt, the best family I know and have had the blessing of spending time with (including during this trip in Chelan). Carina, Dean, Kelty and Carter want to extend their deepest gratitude for any support you can provide during this time, stating that "we feel it, we appreciate it more than you know, and we will be sure Tanner is aware of it ALL. Thank you, we love you, and we are ALL praying for Tan Man's recovery...and to see that amazing, contagious smile again so very soon."