Breyley (2006)

Breyley is almost 6 years old! (9-16-2004)

Breyley at 4 years old!...2-14-2003

10/17/1998 12:45am Fresh off the ventilator--Mom so worried!

Our beautiful, bright boy was born on October 15th, 1998. He was 3 weeks past his medically-given due date, and he came fast! He was born 15 minutes after we got to the hospital...everyone seemed healthy, so we were discharged only 2 hours after his birth. As we were leaving, I just didn't feel quite right about Breyley. I had two other children and they were not as mellow after birth. Breyley also seemed a little grayish to me...and he didn't nurse well. I contacted the doctor on call about 7 hours after we got home, because Breyley seemed to be breathing different...I had to keep his head up on pillows so he could breathe smoothly...and his color still looked off. The doctor told me I was being paranoid, and that I should bring him in after the weekend. (That was two days away!) We ended up taking him to our pediatrician the next morning. It was there that they discovered a heart murmur and that his blood oxygen was only at 45%!

We rushed to the hospital and the doctors and nurses took Breyley in right away and determined that he had TGA and ASD. They prepared him for a helicopter ride to Milwaukee Children's Hospital...I was sure Breyley would die...I was preparing myself for that as my husband and two other children and I made the 2 hour drive to the hospital.

When we finally arrived, I was relieved to hear that he had already successfully had his first surgery...a balloon cath, to make an VSD so he could stay alive for a week to get strong for the major arterial switch surgery. It was so difficult to see my baby boy all hooked up and on a vent...not able to nurse, or cuddle me. I started thinking about the entire situation and getting angry at the hospital he was born at for not detecting this and sending me home with a dying baby. A doctor told us that if I had not followed my motherly instincts, and waited until after the weekend to bring Breyley in, that he would have died within 24 hours. (ALWAYS follow your motherly instincts!)

I never left Breyley's side in the hospital. My family and I spent the next 2 weeks at the Ronald McDonald House (an AMAZING place)...I held Breyley every time I could, read to him, played music for him, and nursed him until his surgery day. Breyley came through his surgery with flying colors! Again, my husband and I were always there for him...and his brother Adam and sister Samantha visited him regularly and brought him pictures they made so he could stare at them! Breyley left the hospital in record-breaking time of only 9 days post-op! He outgrew his only medication (Lasix) within 3 months and has not needed it since.

Breyley is a rambunctious, healthy, very bright, and goofy boy! He is now a big brother (we decided on an unassisted homebirth because of our hospital situation with Breyley) and is 100% healthy. We are so thankful to the doctors and nurses who saved his life. Without them, he would not be here.

The picture is Breyley at 4 years old! What a beautiful little guy!

July 2004 Update

Breyley is doing GREAT! He is as healthy as can be. He still has yearly heart check ups and they, so far, have been near perfect. Breyley loves rock and roll, singing, and doing hand stands. He recently received his yellow belt in karate! He is smart and he has a wonderful sense of humor. I will update with a new photo soon! :-)

June 2006 Update

Breyley will be 8 years old this October. He's a very daring child. He does amazing skateboard jumps and many bike tricks. He can also swim like a fish! Breyley isn't big on eating, but we aren't concerned. He's above average in height and about average in weight when compared to other boys his age. He still has yearly heart check ups. So far, he has only minimal valve leaking at the site of the sutures in his arteries. It's something we watch every year. Luckily he's measured the same valve flow for 2 years. It's still very scary. I'm not so sure that everything gets easier if with age.

March 2008

Breyley is still strong and healthy with absolutely no problems from his past surgeries. We visit with his cardiologist just once per year, and everything has always been positive. I feel that Breyley is just as healthy as any other child who has never had heart surgery. Breyley occasionally has asthma issues but this is due to an allergy to a common mold. We aren't sure if this is because of the ventilator use in infancy or not, but regardless, we're always on top of things! Breyley is an amazing young man. He's active, smart, and fun. He's just PERFECT !