Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your continued prayers, support, and words of hope and encouragement for Ron. Thank you for visiting.
The evening of August 4, 2021 began like any other. Casey and Ron had gone out to dinner for BBQ, and Ron was in good spirits at home. At around 8:15PM, Casey was saying good night to Ron before bed when he suddenly collapsed into a convulsive seizure after complaining of dizziness. Casey immediately sprang into action by calling 911 and administering life-saving CPR.
Ron was rushed to Marshfield in Rice Lake where it was determined that he had suffered a cardiac arrest. He flat-lined in the emergency room for six minutes and was resuscitated before being air transported to Marshfield Hospital in Eau Claire. Casey was truly his guardian angel that night: in absence of her swift administration of CPR and call to 911, the doctors told us Ron would have died in his sleep. After arriving in ICU in Eau Claire, Ron underwent a number of evaluations to determine his status. It was determined that Ron had a brain hemorrhage and that they did not have the resources and ability to handle his critical case in Eau Claire. A ground ambulance was called and was halfway to Eau Claire when a last-minute decision was made to airlift him to Marshfield Hospital in Marshfield, WI due to his very critical condition.
Ron arrived at Marshfield Hospital in a medically-induced coma where he was seen by a team of neuro intensive care doctors, neurologist, and the neurosurgeon. Ron was treated and observed in the intensive care unit until further testing and diagnostics were completed by the neurosurgeon. Upon completion of an MRI and angiogram, the neurosurgeon determined Ron had suffered a very rare type of aneurysm called a dissecting PICA (posterior inferior cerebellar artery) aneurysm that resulted in subarachnoid hemorrhage, with another aneurysm ready to burst at any minute. Upon the recommendation of the neurosurgeon, there was a great sense of urgency that Ron needed to transported to UW Hospital in Madison, WI as quickly as possible, as a rupture of the second aneurysm would be fatal.
On August 8, Ron was transported via depressurized plane from Marshfield to UW Hospital where he was treated by one of the few neurosurgeons in the nation that are qualified and experienced in treating a rare aneurysm of this kind. A treatment plan was put in place to address the dissecting aneurysm in a safe and timely fashion, which included a shunt and course of blood thinners before the aneurysm repair surgery could be completed. Unfortunately, on 8/12, we received heart-wrenching news that the second aneurysm had ruptured. It was a miracle that Ron's neuro ICU doctor was making rounds and attending to Ron at the very moment of the second rupture. This neuro doc was able to immediately attend to Ron with lifesaving medication. Our family was devastated to hear that the aneurysm had ruptured. The neurosurgeon called us and gave us two options: The first option was to let Ron pass. The second option was to proceed with a risky and unconventional surgical approach to address Ron's complicated medical crisis. After hours of waiting and ceaseless prayers, the neurosurgeon called to tell us that against all odds, he was able to successfully secure an endovascular stent to shore up the ruptured vessel (within 1 millimeter of room for error). Our family was overjoyed that this surgery was successful! We were grateful that in addition to the success of the neurosurgery, Ron was able to wake from his medically-induced pentobarbital coma. Sometimes, patients are unable to wake up from this type of deep sedation.
Since surgery, Ron has been recovering but remains in critical condition in the neuro ICU here in Madison. It has been a rollercoaster of small triumphs and setbacks, but we are incredibly grateful to the medical team at UW Hospital for their competence and capabilities. We thank our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, for the miracles we have seen.
We appreciate everyone's positive thoughts and ongoing prayers for Ron and his family as we move forward. We will continue to update this site as we are able. Thank you to everyone for your care and concern and thoughts and prayers. Ron loves you all.
