Local businessman and community leader faces rare surgery

Eric Farris is a well-known name in Branson. A prominent and contributing member of the Branson community, Farris is a savvy businessman, entrepreneur, community leader and more. Farris, a former member of the Branson City Council, was one of the visionaries of the downtown redevelopment and Branson Landing project.

Farris, a lifelong resident of Missouri, is the father of four adult children, and husband to his beautiful wife, Sindy.

Farris (via Facebook)

Farris suffered two separate pulmonary embolisms (blood clots) in his lungs—the first in 2010 and the second in 2013. He was placed on a blood thinning medication, but no follow-up work was done, as most blood clots eventually go away.   

It was recently discovered that Farris still has blood clots in the arteries of his lungs and that those blood clots have formed scar tissue. This is an extremely rare occurrence. Eric has been struggling to breathe for the past year, due to the scar tissue. Walking from one room to another leaves him breathless, and climbing a flight of stairs is impossible without rest breaks with every other step.  

After a series of tests and procedures at Cox Medical Center in Springfield and later at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St Louis, Farris has been diagnosed with a life-threatening condition called Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH). The scar tissue from the older blood clots in the arteries of his lungs have caused Farris to have an extremely high blood pressure, which makes his heart work incredibly hard. Left untreated, CTEPH can cause heart failure at any time.

Eric is now facing a rare and invasive surgery.  This is a 10-hour open heart and open lung surgery called Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy (PTE). The surgery will remove the old blood clots and scar tissue and open up the blocked arteries. If successful, it will allow Farris to breathe much better. The surgery will require Farris to remain in Intensive Care for up to a week, and to be hospitalized for up to three weeks, undergoing tests, physical therapy and occupational therapy. Recovery will take four to six months.

The surgery is so rare that it is only offered at 10 hospitals in the United States. Farris has been accepted at the University of California - San Diego Medical Center - for the surgery, which is set for February 25.  The surgery and recovery and related costs will place a huge financial burden on Eric and his wife, Sindy, who will be his primary caretaker throughout his recovery.  

To help his family with the unexpected financial expenses, a GoFundMe account has been set up by a long-time friend of Eric's, Broam Chrisagis, entitled "Please Help Eric Farris Breathe Again."

Eric and his family appreciate any contributions to this GoFundMe account.

Said Farris, "If you can find it in your heart to make a donation in any amount, it will go a long way to Sindy and I in what otherwise is an extremely stressful and scary situation. Any amount, big or small, will make a difference."

Those who are unable to donate are asked to help spread the word of this fundraising endeavor to family and friends and social media contacts.

"As always, we appreciate your prayers and emotional support and well-wishes through this journey," said Farris.