Anoxic Brain Injury - Cayden's Story
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Imagine being at home on a Saturday and getting this phone call, 'Hello, this is St. Mary Hospital, we have your son Cayden here. He was found unconscious with little to no oxygen for somewhere between 8-12hrs. He must've fallen, hit his head and suffered a traumatic brain injury and is in very critical condition. Please come as soon as you can!' One of the worst phone calls a parent could receive.
February 12, 2022 forever changed the life of my sweet nephew Cayden, my sister Leslee and brother-in-law Chris. Not to mention his brother CJ and all of the rest of us that love him so much.
Cayden was intibated on site when EMS arrived, shortly after had a heart attack, and was diagnosed with covid pneumonia after being admitted to the hospital. He spent 18 days on a ventilator, had a trach placed along with a PEG line (feeding tube also used to administer medications and fluids).
His prognosis was NOT good, so bad actually the Dr. wanted my sister/brother-in-law to consider palliative care, or turning off the life support that was keeping him alive. His neurologist told us he had little to no brain activity and that he was not hopeful he would survive.
But then, on February 20th, a miracle happened, he OPENED HIS EYES! Not for long, but long enough for God to prove to us he was performing a miracle through Cayden! From that day forward, so much progress has been made.
Not long after, the vent was removed and he was breathing 100% on his own! He began to smile, laugh and stay awake for longer stretches as they started to wein him from the sedation medications he was on. Things started to progress so well that his trach was removed on March 23rd. He began to talk and sing and remembered lyrics to songs from his favorite bands!
He was given a 'swallow test' to see how he tolerated different textures of food. He passed with flying colors and ate his first real meal on March 24th.
By this time, he had been moved to Kindred and was being worked with by Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists daily.
While all of this progress is so amazing, Cayden is still non-mobile and has lost most of his eyesight. And because insurance would not pay past 4wks in Frazier Rehab, he was sent home on April 21st. He has a very long road to recovery. My sister will have to quit her job and be his full time caretaker. He had to have a hospital bed, sling and lift to get him in and out of bed. Chris, his dad, had to build a ramp on the front porch to get him in and out of the house. And the most expensive thing He will have to have is a handicapped van with a ramp for the wheelchair, to transport him to and from PT, OT & Speech therapy 4x's a week. These vans can be very pricey, but 100% necessary and a very vital part of his recovery. This is why I'm asking for help from all of our friends and family. Going from 2 incomes to now 1, and needing vital medical supplies for his health and recovery has become very stressful and overwhelming.
We know 'God's got this', which has been our saying from day one, along with 'Faith over Fear'!
But any monetary help would be so greatly appreciated.
Please keep Cayden and our family in your prayers.
Fundraising team (2)
Tiffanee Hedges
Organizer
Louisville, KY
Leslee Winstead
Team member