Hello my name is Haley Konzal (Bernard is my maiden name for those of you plugged into the Freeman community) and I have known Max for 25 years! We met when we were just 5 years old and in the same kindergarten class. I have had the complete honor of growing up with Max and anyone that knows him will agree that its an honor to know Max. Max is a very well known and loved community member. To know him is to be loved by him. His hugs are healing, his laugh is contagious and his smile lights up any room. Max deeply cares about everyone in his life and makes sure you feel loved. If you know Max you know how incredibly humble he can be and was hesitant when I told him I wanted to set something up to help him financially but as our conversation continued I reminded him that there’s no reason to go into massive debt because of medical bills when he has a whole community of people who love and care for him and would want to help and he agreed. Now is the time to rally behind him and show a huge amount of support. On July 6th I received a text from one of Max’s close family members who was wondering if I had heard from him. I had just talked to him a few days prior but his family member knew something was wrong because they’d be trying to get ahold of him for a few days with zero response which is very unlike him. I quickly started calling and texting the people closest to Max to try and get an answer. Next thing I know I am being told he is in the ICU and intubated with not much information than that. I was scared and contacted a few other people who would need to know about his whereabouts and started praying. I held my breath the next few days while I waited for updates. Thank God Max was with friends who he calls family when this all happened so he had amazing support and a voice of reason speaking for him when he didn’t have one. I asked Marissa (Andy Coumont’s Fiancé) to write up the events that unfolded and here they are: SeaSide OR 4th of July: Max stated that his throat was beginning to feel dry and it was starting to hurt. 5th: Max didn’t eat all day and began to say that his throat hurt extremely bad. Friends/family encouraged him to rest. No medication was working at that time. His uvula began to change in form/color. 6th: Max was throwing up blood by 3:00 a.m., his voice had changed tremendously and he was having a difficult time swallowing water. Marisa (Andy Coumont’s fiancé) brought Max to the ER in Seaside OR. On a scale of 1-10 Max continually reported his pain level was at a 12. The doctor tested for COVID and Strep which both came back negative. He had a CT scan showing increased swelling/inflammation from vocal folds up. Max continually cleared his throat and stated that he wasn’t able to swallow his secretions. Everything shifted really quick due to his airway closing. Doctor intubated Max around 12:00pm. He was life flighted to the airport in Hillsboro OR then was transported via ambulance to Hillsboro Medical Center. Marisa-Andy stayed at the hospital with Max throughout the majority of Max’s stay. 7-9th Max remained on medication that blurred memory so that he wouldn’t have any trauma from the experience as well as remained heavily sedated at times. Unable to speak due to the breathing tube he took to writing on a piece of paper in order to communicate wants/needs. He frequently asked if family/friends were informed and if he could have water (NPO-so the answer was no). Initially doctors weren’t sure what was causing all the swelling/inflammation; however, a culture sample came back stating it was a bacterial infection. Multiple scopes were completed to look at airway/swelling. Antibiotics were changed midway through the stay to fight the infection because this specific infection was resistant to the initial antibiotics. A blood clot was found in his jugular and was related to the infection. He was extubated on Sunday 7/9 where he was then monitored closely before discharge on Thursday 7/13. The medical staff at Hillsboro Medical Center was phenomenal and very accommodating. Guests were allowed in Max’s room at all times during his stay. Marisa-Andy worked hard to keep everyone close to him informed. Max’s dad and sister Katie took over caring for Max at the hospital from 7/9-7/13. Max is home now and is recovering well. He will be on antibiotics for a few more weeks and will have additional scans/appointments to monitor symptoms as well as check on clots. Medical bills are already starting to come in and we would love to see the weight be lifted from Max’s shoulder as we help him in this time of need.
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