Andy’s Story

Site created on July 18, 2023

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement.  


On Saturday, July 1 Andy started feeling sick with flu like symptoms (fever, cough, congestion etc).  These symptoms persisted several days and finally prompted Andy to go to the doctor on Wednesday, July 5th. At the doctor’s office, testing was done, and Andy was diagnosed with double pneumonia.  Meaning that both lungs were affected.   Pneumonia is an infection that causes fluid to build up in the bottom of the lungs.  This can make breathing difficult.  The doctor prescribed antibiotics to kill the bacteria causing the infection and an inhaler to open his airways and help him breathe easier.  Because Andy's breathing was so labored during the office visit, the doctor also ordered a CT scan to rule out any blood clots in his lungs.  


On Friday, July 7th Andy had the CT scan.  The scan did not reveal any blood clots which is excellent news, and confirmed the doctor’s diagnosis of pneumonia in both lungs.  The doctor told Andy and Sarah to expect it to take a couple of weeks for Andy to have relief of his symptoms and feel the full impact of the antibiotics that he was taking.  At both the doctor’s appointment and the CT Scan Andy's oxygen levels were within normal limits and did not raise any red flags.


On Thursday, July 13th Andy woke up and was having a much harder time breathing and was not looking very good.   Sarah and Andy decided it was time to go to emergency room.  Sarah drove Andy to St. John’s Hospital in Maplewood, where he was admitted immediately !  Andy's oxygen saturation was only 27 percent!!!  Normal oxygen sats are 90-100%!  The nurses said they had never seen a patient with an oxygen reading that low who was still conscious!  But that’s Andy…being a little bit extra at everything he does!   Things happened quickly after that, and they ended up putting Andy in an induced coma and on a ventilator.  The coma is allowing his body to rest and start to recover while the ventilator is doing the hard work of breathing for Andy while he rests.

Within hours, Andy was diagnosed with Legionnaire’s Disease.  Legionnaires' Disease is a type of pneumonia caused by the bacteria legionella.  It is very rare.  In the US they see fewer than 20,000 cases per year.  Legionnaires isn't spread from person to person but spread through mist such as the mist from an air conditioning unit.  The health department is currently investigating where Andy could have gotten this infection.  Symptoms of this infection are cough, fever, chills, shortness of breath muscle aches etc... all symptoms that Andy had been experiencing!   Treatment consists of Antibiotics and close monitoring.  Andy's case is a little more serious than most as he ended up needing assistance breathing.

After an official diagnosis was made later that afternoon, Andy was transferred to the ICU at the University of Minnesota Hospital where he is currently receiving the very best care.  


Thank you for visiting and for your thoughts and prayers on Andy's behalf.  We will keep this site as updated as possible during Andy's recovery.




Newest Update

July 30, 2023

Journal entry by Brittany Munger —

ANDY IS GOING HOME!!

Even more exciting Andy is going home without any oxygen!  I don't know if I can even put into words what a miracle this is.  Considering he walked into the Emergency Room 18 days ago with an oxygen level that in reality was barely keeping him alive, it is absolutely incredible that he will be walking out of the hospital today, let alone oxygen free!  

Yesterday Andy escaped from ICU to the regular floor!  He was so excited to have a little bit more freedom.  He said the ICU gals were constantly watching him! He told me about how much trouble he was once he started to wake up and how once he started to get back to himself he was antsy as can be (I for one just can't imagine this.. BAHAHAHAHA).  He told me that the nurses actually called the hospital engineers to check on his bed alarms because he kept escaping them.  This cracked me up quite a bit. I remember working on the floor with those kinds of patients and I know even though he was probably driving them insane, they adored him, because how can you not!! This morning Andy walked back up to the ICU and thanked everyone who helped save his life and put up with all his antics! HAHA!

To escape the hospital oxygen free Andy had to be able to run around the hospital unit and maintain an oxygen saturation of 88%.  Yesterday he was just short at 85% but today he will run free! And the only equipment he will take home with him is a CPAP to help treat apnea when sleeping.  Apnea is very literally the lack of breathing. So when he is sleeping his body isn't remembering to regularly breathe or something is obstructing his regular breathes.  The CPAP will force his body to breathe regularly and his body will be rested when he wakes up!

God is so good.  Andy has been so blessed to have the prayers, well wishes, good vibes, and warm fuzzies that you all have sent him over the last 18 days.  In his own words he says "Thank you to everyone.  I couldn't have done it without you guys"

BRAVO ANDY AND CONGRATS ON YOUR FREEDOM!  

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