Brayden Brave! Little Warrior!

As many of you know, Ryan and Amber introduced Brayden Dean to the world on May 13th.  He is such a happy, smiley little guy who has been given a big challenge.  Brayden was born with Tetralogy of Fallot which is a rare condition affecting only 5/10,000 children born each year.  To explain it in the easiest way possible, when children are born with this condition they have four heart defects at the same time.  Tetralogy Fallot lowers both oxygen and blood flow out of the heart and to the rest of the body.  He struggles to maintain appropriate body temperature and may have difficulty in the future with strenuous activity.   He will have regular visits and always be monitored for any changes and concerns.  The impact of this is so much for one little body to handle!  He is one AMAZING little boy!   The family has been able to work with doctors and specialists at the University of Iowa since ultrasounds at 20 and 24 weeks indicated this congenital condition.   After Brayden was born at the University, they spent about 2 weeks in the NICU there for monitoring and then were able to head home to Luana for about 3 ½ months.  Brayden gave everyone a scare in the midst of that time, but were only at the University for a short time.  They all got to enjoy summer together before heading back to Iowa City for the first of 2 possible surgeries this past Tuesday Sept 17th.  This first surgery is the most intense and risky as the goal is to attempt to repair all the defects.  The actual procedure went well, but Brayden’s little body has struggled to adjust to the medicines they are trying and he is currently still in stable condition.  They have been able to take him off some medicine gradually and this little fighter is showing them what he is made of!   As Brayden, Ryan, Amber, Reagan continue to fight this battle they will need the support of all of those that love and care for them.  Long hospital stays, trips to the University, medical expenses, covering for missed work, and so many other burdens are all part of this journey.  We would like to ask that you consider helping the family ease some of these burdens so that they can focus their time, energy, and all their love on Brayden and Reagan.  As Amber and Ryan have shared Brayden’s fight, they refer to Philippians 4:13… ”I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Please join us in doing everything we can to strengthen this family as they fight this battle!