SALT LAKE CITY — A senior at the University of Utah is dealing with a rare type of medical issue, and his family said they are taking things “moment by moment” on his road to recovery.
“Things can change quite rapidly,” explained Fiona Maynard, Brian Maynard's mom. “In a million years, you wouldn’t expect this to happen, and to have your life flip upside down.”
In a matter of just hours, the healthy student was hospitalized, airlifted and left paralyzed without the ability to breathe on his own or speak.
Fiona explained that the morning of Dec. 30 started like any other. Brian was home with his family in Cedar City while on break from school for the holidays.
“I had made him French toast in the morning, and his dad and older brother Max were trying to figure out what they wanted to do for the day,” recalled Fiona.
He started to feel stiff — as if he had slept wrong.
“He sat in the La-Z-Boy chair," Fiona said. "His neck... just popped and he had a huge pain in his chest.”
Concerned with his condition, Brian's parents rushed him to the hospital. But when Brian began feeling numbness in his body while they were driving to the hospital, his dad Bruce pulled over and called 911.
By the time the ambulance arrived, Brian had lost movement in his body and was barely breathing. After placing him on oxygen, EMTs rushed Brian to the nearest hospital. But they then realized he needed urgent specialized care, so he was transferred to St. George Hospital.
Over the course of a week, it was learned that he had suffered a rare spinal cord stroke.
“What we’ve read and talked to the doctors about, it’s 1 percent, 1.25 percent of the population,” Fiona said.
Brian has since been moved to a University of Utah Health rehabilitation hospital in Salt Lake City where he was visited this week by a group of college friends while in the intensive care unit. They also decorated his room.
“Brian has always been such a kind soul. He always had a big group of friends, and he loves his friends. [He's] just a kid that loves life,” said Fiona.
Brian’s stroke left him without feeling throughout his body. He now communicates through blinking and mouthing words.
Fiona also said he is a talented artist.
“He loves to draw; that’s his happy place," she said.
Using a special balloon to communicate, Brian told his friends that when his condition began to worsen, he prayed that he wouldn't lose the ability to use his drawing hand.
How it all happened is still a mystery.
“He snowboards, he fishes, he plays pickleball with us, goes hiking," Fiona said.
The good news is that Brian is recovering through speech and physical therapy.
“He’s such a fighter and determined kid. But of course, there’s deep blows. We know that he will get through this,” said Fiona.
Fiona and Bruce are by Brian’s side 24/7.
“We’ve closed up our house in Cedar and moved up here. We are renting an Airbnb," Fiona said.
Despite the devastating occurrence and only being able to communicate by raising his eyebrows to identify letters, Maynard spelled out to his doctors: "I will never give up."
Brian's cognitive function is fully intact and he says he'll continue his fight. A board in his hospital room reads: “I am strong. I will conquer.”
“We are going to stay up here as long as he needs,” said Fiona, adding that she and Bruce will continue to do whatever it takes to get their son back on his feet. “We’re going through the unimaginable. So life-altering. However, we pull from Brian’s strength and his determination to fight.”
Brian’s family doesn’t know how long his recovery will take, but he will be supported throughout his journey.
According to a GoFundMe created to help pay for Maynard's medical expenses, before he was moved to the new hospital, he mouthed the words to "I Won't Give Up," his favorite Jason Mraz song:
"I won't give up on us
"Even if the skies get rough
"I'm giving you all my love
"I'm still looking up"
