Nana Visits Brayden

Since I told people about this blog before I actually started it, I guess I better start posting some updates. I'll just do updates for now, but give me a few days and I'll post the back story and details for folks.

For now just know that Brayden is 6 days and had open heart surgery 4 days ago for hypoplastic right heart syndrome (HRHS). We were VERY skeptical that he would survive the surgery, but survive he did! He is progressing remarkably well. My mom's cousins drove her to New Orleans (four hours from my mom's home) to see him today. He has had his chest tube removed and they anticipate removing his breathing tube and having him breathing on his own by days' end. We are not sure how long he'll be in the hospital but have heard it will likely be around 4 weeks. He will need another surgery in 3-6 months and future surgeries when he is a pre-schooler.

Brayden has a super sweet twin sister, Kayelyn. She's healthy and is doing well despite not wanting to eat much and maybe having jaundice.

My sister is slowly recovering from her c-section. It's hard for her that Brayden is hospitalized four hours away and she can't be with both babies. She did get to go to New Orleans with her husband and his sister and brother-in-law yesterday so she was finally able to visit with Brayden. She brought him a "womb bear" that had hers, Andrew's, and Kayelyn's scent on it for him to have in the crib with him. She and my mom are hoping to go, along with my aunt, to see him again on Friday. I am taking next week off work to spend with my sister and I'll drive her to New Orleans to see him again then, too.

Brayden seems to be out of immediate danger for the time being. The days and weeks to come will likely be a bit draining for my sister and family as we sort out caring for two newborns, one of whom is sick and hospitalized 4 hours away. But, considering how close we came to losing him, it’s a problem we are happy to have!!!

Thanks again for all your prayers – and keep ‘em coming! I will try and update this blog pretty regularly.