Brittany’s Story

Site created on December 25, 2022

Welcome to Brittany Engstrom's CaringBridge website. Brittany's family is using it to keep everyone updated in one place. Ernie, Leita, Scott, JoLynn and all of Brittany's family are very appreciative your prayers, support, words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.

Brittany was diagnosed with Influenza A on Monday, December, 19th. Wednesday, Dec. 21 her condition worsened and early Thursday morning she was transferred to the Spearfish hospital by ambulance.  It was determined that she was in septic shock from Influenza A and Strep pharyngitis.   Brittany was then transferred to Monument Hospital in Rapid City.   She was directly admitted to the ICU and her condition continued to worsen.  She was intubated and resuscitation treatments were continued.  

She was found to be in liver, renal and heart failure.  The resuscitation efforts were ineffective and by 4 pm Thursday, Dec. 22 the doctors and nurses had exhausted all possible treatments and we were told the next 6-12 hours would determine if she would survive.  

Here is a brief recap of Brittany's story since December 22nd (taken from Facebook). 

THURSDAY, 12/22:
Urgent prayers are needed for 32-year-old Brittany Engstrom, who is critically ill in the Rapid City ICU. She went into septic shock after a terrible bout with influenza and strep throat and is suffering from organ failure. She is a wife and a mother to a beautiful 6-year-old daughter. Thank you.
 
Her husband is with her, but her parents can’t be there with her because the roads are closed all throughout South Dakota due to the blizzard and extreme cold. Please keep them in your prayers too.

UPDATE 12/23 at 12 pm: 
From Brittany’s dad, “Just got report from the doctor. She has slightly improved, using 2 less drugs to maintain her pressures. Her liver failure is worse, she is at more risk for bleeding and she is in congestive heart failure. He has been consulting docs in 5 states for her. There was hope in his voice today where there wasn't yesterday. Miracles are already happening! Thanks for all your continued prayers!!!! Love you all.”

She is still critical, but things are trending in a positive direction. Please KEEP THE PRAYERS COMING! Brittany’s parents hope to leave later today or tomorrow to get to her, depending on weather. Please pray for a safe journey for them.
 
UPDATE 12/24 at 11 am CST: 
From Brittany's parents, "We got here at 11 (pm Friday night) and got to touch, talk, pray with her and bathe Brittany. Her liver failure had worsened. She had been accepted to the liver transplant team at Mayo. If labs continued to worsen, she would have been flown this morning to Rochester, but they didn't. Another miracle!! This morning her liver function has slightly improved. She is almost off the last drug to maintain her pressures, her dialysis will be stopped later today, and possibly extubated tonite or tomorrow. The doctor said he doesn't know what part caused the miracle; her night nurse said, ‘We don't get to see miracles often, but Brittany is one of them and we are so thankful to get to witness this.’Hope you all have a Blessed Christmas, ours has been Blessed to the heavens and back! We have never experienced such love and mercy!! Love you all.”

Miracles are real! We know that God is listening to all of your prayers! She is still in serious condition, so PLEASE KEEP THE PRAYERS COMING!
 
UPDATE 12/25 at 5 pm CST: From JoLynn, Brittany’s mom, “Was not able to see Brittany much today. Stopped in after Mass this morning, but she is very agitated with things. Her body and organs are waking up more and more, but eyes are not open. Nurse doesn’t want too much stimulation to cause her to be more agitated! So we are staying at cousins’ until further notice from the nurse. Leita opened presents and we are hanging out here. Ventilator probably not coming off today unless she relaxes. We are accepting baby steps. I tend to want her to be back to normal and need to accept those little things! It’s in God’s hands not mine!!”

THANK YOU for all of your prayers! They are so appreciated! Merry Christmas!

Newest Update

December 25, 2023

Journal entry by JoLynn Weber —

We can’t believe it has been a whole year since we had received our Christmas miracle in two-fold; the total healing of our daughter, Brittany and the birth of our granddaughter, Ramah. Our lives were forever changed by God’s love and mercy in the most profound way! We move forward day by day surrendering and trusting God’s will for us! 
Thank you again for lifting us up in our time of need. Your prayers were so appreciated!
Love Scott & Jo
 
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.""  
–Isaiah 9:6

An update from Brittany and her journey.

The Journey
 
 As we all celebrate this Christmas season, it is traditional to look back on the year. This journey has the usual components of happiness, sadness, awe, wonder, and a striking feeling of what could only be described as God’s love. However, my family and I have been on a roller coaster this entire year. We went from almost having to say goodbye to me, to saying goodbye to Spearfish. We said hello to our new home in Sioux Falls, and hello to the family that has always been there. 
 
Once the dust settled from graduation of nursing school, I realized that our calling was to remain here with the family all along. No more anxiety of being back in my home town (or any town on the eastern side of the state for that matter). And just an overwhelming sense of calm. I cannot help noticing that after getting home from the hospital at the beginning of the year, things have fallen into place so effortlessly that it is almost impossible to ignore. Instead of resisting the change in my normal fashion, I have embraced it. I notice the simplicity of the sunsets, sunrises, and the joy that families embrace without the lure of the Black Hills. I have accomplished my nursing degree and secured a position with Avera on the Surgical Trauma Unit (post passing my boards of course). I have learned not to question what the journey has in store, and instead take every opportunity to become the best mother and nurse I can possibly be. Not everyone gets a second chance, so when your journey leads you to new and different places, with all the grace you can possibly muster, embrace the change! Embrace the journey!
Read More of the journal titled "December 25, 2023"
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