Anoka woman in coma after complications from gastric bypass; benefit planned

Amy Hayden is the type of person seldom photographed alone.  Always there seem to be family and friends around her.  Then and now.  "She hasn't been alone since this happened; this family and her friends have all taken turns staying with her," says Sara Hayden, Amy's sister-in-law.

For a month now Amy has been on a ventilator in a medically induced coma at Unity Hospital in Fridley from complications that arose three days after her gastric bypass surgery.

"She was feeling burning and had an upset stomach and just pretty miserable," recalls Amy's sister Christy Bristlin, "and on the third day her husband ended up calling the ambulance just because he was so concerned."

Bristlin and Hayden say blood clots essentially killed Amy's small intestine.  "It's a day by day thing," says Bristlin, noting recent small improvements in Amy's condition that have given the family hope.

In a statement, Unity hospital offered its "thoughts and prayers" but said it could provide no information about Amy's condition or treatment because of patient confidentiality laws. 

"While there is a risk of complication in any type of surgery," the statement reads, "Unity's infection, complication and morbidity rates for bariatric surgery are among the lowest in the nation, with an infection rate of less than one percent (0.4%) and morbidity rate of .03%, or one death per 3,000 surgeries, compared to a national rate of 10.2 deaths per 3,000 surgeries."

Bristlin and Hayden say Amy, a 33-year-old mother of four and a middle school paraprofessional, knew the risks but pursued gastric bypass after a serious back operation and a recommendation from one of her doctors who "suggested the weight loss surgery would be a really good thing for her to help her heal."

The two are not pointing fingers, just looking for help for Amy, her husband Matt and their kids.

"They're a two income family that are actually down to no income right now because Matt's at the hospital right now and Amy's not working so they do have some living expenses mortgages, utilities," said Bristlin.

Both are part of the planning for a March 21st benefit for Amy at the Champlin American Legion.

You can find more information on the benefit for Amy Hayden by clicking here for the momslikeme.com/twincities discussion.

By Boyd Huppert, KARE 11 News