Brody {Six Years Later}

Six years ago today was without a doubt the scariest day of my life.

We were asked that evening to leave the NICU so that the doctors could work on Brody. Our wing of the NICU was blocked off and Brody’s isolette  was surrounded by partitions. His "23 weeker" lungs were failing and his brain was swelling and hemorrhaging more each and day causing numerous issues and leaving him hanging onto his life by a thread.

Completely overwhelmed and still trying to take in everything that had happened the last few days I remember my OB taking my hand and telling me "these next 12 hours will make or break Brody. Right now you need to pray."

It was a Wednesday night and our church stopped service, joined hands and Baxter lead the congregation in prayer for our Brody.

Brody had the doctors “backed into a corner with nothing else they could do…” His last hope was a gas called Nitric Oxide and thankfully, Brody made a turn for the better and responded well to the treatment. I remember the neonatologist coming to Bret and saying "I don't know what you’re doing, but keep doing it".

Brody showed us all that day just how tough a teeny tiny premature baby could be.

Although it wasn't all uphill from that day forward I knew my Brody wasn't going to give up without a fight. My heart ached as I watched him each day struggle. I watched his body swell and his tiny hands clinch tighter as the pressure on his brain worsened and I watched more and more machines surround him as the days passed. I watched as his tiny body was poked and prodded with multiple IVs, chest tubs, broviacs, tubes and monitors. with.  As badly as I wanted to hold him to speak to him to love on him, I was also terrified to over-stimulate him and make things worse. There were times all I could do was crack the window of his incubator and softly encourage him to hang on. So many tears I wiped off of his bed as I prayed and begged him to stay strong.

Six years later… look at my boy now…

All parents are proud but I’m certain you don’t get any more proud of your child than I am of my Brody. I am so thankful to God that he is allowing Bret and I to raise this pint size, country music lovin’, southern accent talkin’, blonde haired, blue eyed boy.

I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. 1 Samuel 1:27 NIV