Follow Randy’s Journey Home with Us

On August 22, 2019, Randy Pistole suffered a massive heart attack at his taxidermy shop in Central TX. His heart stopped while in transport to Baylor Scott & White in Temple, TX. Through a series of miracles and life saving efforts, ECMO, cardiac catheterization surgery and an extensive stay in the ICU, Randy’s life was spared, but he suffered diffuse hypoxic brain injury. The best neurologists can’t predict how much function will be restored. Patients with the same MRI as Randy have outcomes that range from a vegatative state to significant recovery of function and quality of life. Randy is currently in recovery, and has come a long way. There are still many mountains to climb before he is able to return home and participate in any of the activities that used to bring him so much joy. His wife Melissa has followed Randy in each stage and location of his rehabilitation so she can invest full-time in his recovery, assisting with his medications, treatments, and therapy. Melissa will update this blog multiple times per week with news about Randy’s recovery. In time, we hope this blog will become a resource for hope, inspiration, and knowledge for those who find themselves and their loved ones in this club no one wants to be a member of, that we call Brain Injury Survivors.

Randy Pistole, who previously supported his family as a taxidermist, suffered a massive heart attack on August 22.

During the next several months, at least, Melissa, Randy, and our family need help: the costs of recovery are exorbitantly high, and because she is taking such an active part in his recovery process, Melissa is unable to work consistently as before. If you are in a position to help, we ask that you do so: even the smallest sponsorship makes a big difference. Visit the sponsorship page for more info on how you can Follow Randy Home, as well as to see what small tokens we can give you in return for the help we receive during this time.

We believe that Randy will succeed and pull through eventually, and we want you to catch that vision, too. Thank you all in advance for your help!


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