Revised with great news below.
I know, it’s been forever since I’ve posted. My baby is happily a Millikin University MT BFA in her second year. She came home for spring break and wasn’t able to return due to the COVID-19 outbreak. But that is not the purpose of this post.
Amy Breslow was one of our MTCA angels as we went through the hell of college auditions two years ago. Her son, Jack is a Roosevelt/CCPA theater student. Amy is an advisor, fellow mom and sweet and supportive friend when we all needed her. Now she NEEDS us. Her husband, Brett NEEDS us.
Brett is a Navy vet, football coach, theatre dad and all around awesome dad… and he’s in Cooper Hospital ICU on a ventilator fighting for his life. This is URGENT. He needs YOUR antibodies if you’ve tested positive for COVID-19 and have been symptom free for 14 days.
Please don’t discount the need to be careful with this virus. Brett is only 50 years old and was a very healthy guy. No one would have imagined he would be fighting for his life with this.
Does it sound like I’m begging? I AM. If you or anyone you know who may be able to help Brett, please reach out, tell them his story and ask them to donate blood. (revised, Brett is no longer in need, but others are… please consider donating if you can) Their antibodies could save lives. Again, he needs YOUR antibodies if you’ve tested positive for COVID-19 and have been symptom free for 14 days. The complete criteria and instructions how to help are below.
You may have seen Amy on MSNBC this morning. (view here) It’s heartbreaking. But we can’t feel hopeless… this isn’t a time to give up. This is a new therapy and thankfully Brett is eligible. Let the heartbreak fuel determination and help for Brett and his beautiful family.
If you’re the praying type, please send them up for Brett and the Breslow family.
(Here is info) on the experimental therapy for which they need the plasma.
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This describes who is eligible to donate plasma for COVID-19 patients.
We know that there are many people who want to help.
In order to be a donor for this experimental procedure, the following criteria must be met:
* Prior diagnosis of COVID-19 documented by a laboratory test
* Must meet all regular blood donor eligibility criteria
* Complete resolution of symptoms at least 14 days prior to donation
* Negative results for COVID-19 either from one or more nasopharyngeal swab specimens or by a molecular diagnostic test from blood. A partial list of available tests can be accessed at this site. (click here)
* Male donors or Female donors negative for HLA antibodies
* Defined SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody titers, if testing can be conducted (e.g., optimally greater than 1:320)
A form stating that the criteria have been met must be signed by a licensed physician. At this time, the American Red Cross is setting up a website for potential donors. If you would like to designate for Cooper Hospital you may do so at the time of donation.
Thank you to everyone who is willing and able to donate to help beat this virus.
Red Cross COVID-19 donor and/or clinician who is interested in receiving convalescent plasma for a patient, or wants to refer potential donors registration form (click here)
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4/13/20 UPDATE:
Good morning friends. It’s been a few days since my last Brett update. He is still in the ICU, but we are hopeful that he will be transferred to a step down unit tomorrow. He is still on dialysis and will undergo a small procedure today to move the dialysis catheter. They will be placing him on intermittent dialysis instead of continuous. I am not sure how long he will remain in the step down unit, but the plan is for him to go to an acute rehabilitation center. He is very weak and will need to rebuild his strength. We are hopeful that his kidneys will rebound. He has a long road ahead, but we know his inner warrior will allow him to fully recover. I think the thing that’s most difficult right now is not being able to be with him. We have been able to “see” him via FaceTime, but we just need to hug our guy a little. Please continue to pray for his full recovery. We are so thankful to all of you for your support and prayers.
4/3/20 UPDATE:
He is making some small improvements in the ICU. He remains on a ventilator completely sedated on kidney dialysis and the Dr tells me he is still critical. Brett was diagnosed with COVID-19, staph pneumonia in both lungs, ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome), kidney failure, and is suffering from a cytokine storm. He may also have an additional infection (cultures pending). The cytokine storm is an overreaction of his immune system to the COVID-19. It causes severe inflammation in the body and your Ferritin, LDH, C Reactive Protein, and Triglyceride levels are very high. He was treated with 1 dose of Actemra upon admission and received a second dose several days ago. It is helping to bring down his inflammation levels but it’s a slow process. Brett was also given Kaletra and Hydroxychloroquine, the drug cocktail that has been used in others. They are continuing to wean down his ventilator settings in the hopes that he will be well enough to come off soon. Plasma donation is pending having a suitable donor. We are happy to report that 3 donors were given a second COVID test yesterday. Results are pending.
4/1/20 UPDATE:
Amy’s appearance on Dr. Oz. (here)
3/31/20 UPDATE FROM AMY:
I have been blown away by the outpouring of support for Brett and our family. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart for showing us so much love 
!! I am still waiting on all of the specific details regarding plasma donation. I am hopeful that we will be able to make a statement today. Brett is making small improvements but is still critical, on a ventilator and kidney dialysis. I will be on MSNBC’s Morning Joe today at 8:45am and later this afternoon (time TBA), I will be speaking with Anderson Cooper on CNN. I also taped an interview yesterday with Dr Oz for his show that will be airing today. All of this is surreal! I never imagined any of this could happen and I am grateful for this national platform to get the word out about COVID-19.
3/30/20 UPDATE FROM AMY:
Thank you everyone for the outpouring of support!! I want to clarify a few things:
Please DO NOT call Cooper Hospital. Cooper and their team of medical professionals have been amazing and they have nothing to do with why the blood plasma cannot get to Brett. They are busy saving lives and I do not want them distracted from that please!
The problem lies with the donation sites, coordinating the plasma draws, having them processed, and then sent to Cooper. We are at a major disadvantage as none of these processes have been in place and no one is coordinating this effort. We are in uncharted waters.
As Governor Cuomo stated, we need to be more proactive not reactive” Unfortunately our country was not proactive and did not adequately prepare for this pandemic. What is happening now is the result of these lack of preparations.
I have many people working behind the scenes right now to contact Senators Menendez and Booker, Donald Norcross, officials in Delaware, Governor Murphy, and even VP Joe Biden. I am confident that we will be successful, but right now we need time to get this done. I am praying that by tomorrow morning we will have some better news and people will be able to donate.
Brett is still critical and he’s a fighter according to his doctor. I want him to have every possible option for treatment so that he can come back home to us and his community.
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xoxo
#saveBrett
