On this day two years ago, our transplant story began. This is the day that Brody was transfered from Childrens Mercey in Kansas City, to St. Louis Childrens hospital for a heart transplant evaluation. I'll never forget the day Melissa called me with the news that Brody was going to die. As you all know, we had some issues with Brody, and we knew that he had a heart condition. We also knew that there was a possibility that it would be fatal. But, we had actually gotten some news a couple days prior that all the testing that genetics had done were all back, and they were negative, which was a great thing. Genetics thought that Brody might have been able to be treated for his condition, and be ok. Brody was an impatient that day, for dehydration, and I had taken off work and drivin up there for our consult. So after we got the news, I left the to go back to work, with some what high spirits. It's about an hour drive from the hospital to were we live. By the time I had gotten home, the cardio doc had stopped by and talked to Melissa. I remember my phone ringing, and hearing Melissa crying telling me i needed to get back up to the hospital asap!
She then told me a phrase that we hadn't heard up to that point. She said cardio stopped by about fifiteen minutes after I left and told her that Brody's "condition" was not compatible with life!!! Why this doc decided to wait and tell her this after I left, while she was by herself is something we will never understand. He told Melissa that we had maybe two months left with Brody, and he advised us to go home and bond with him while we still could. Needless to say, we didin't take his advice. Thank God Melissa met cindy Gibson. She is the one who told us about St. Louis, and transplantation. After convincing the doc, very politely i might add, that we were not just going to go home and watch him die, the doc agreed to ship us were ever we wanted to go. On July 3rd, Melissa and Brody hopped on a jet and flew to st. Louis, and that's were our mirracle truely began. Only one parent was able to fly with him. I remember the flight nurses coming to get Brody and prepare him for the flight. Let me tell ya, these people are like the Swat Team of nurses. It was amazing to watch these people work. It was like they were planning a tactical procedure, they studied him and inspeceted him from head to toe. I remember watching Brody and Melissa leave to get on the jet. They had Brody in this complete contained stretcher, like a bubble almost, strapped down so he couldn't barely move at all. I walked them all the way to the elevator, the whole time thinking that this couldn't really be happening. It was like something you see in a movie. The doors shut to the elevator, and off they went. I wish I could've been there when they arrived at the hospital. Melissa said that the minute they arrived a "swarm" of docs were waiting for them. She said there must have atleast twelve docs, everyone from G.I., to genetics, to Neurology, and of course cardio. Everyone was flopping him around, and examining him. Then the legendary Dr. Canter came in. We had pre-warned about this guy. He's the head guru, the one who makes the ultimate call on whether or not a child gets a transplant or not. And he's also on of the most wierdest individuals a person could ever meet. Dr. Canter can only be described as Dr. Canter, there really are no words to explain him. I guess he comes into the room and flopps Brody around like a fish, and then turns to Melissa and says "It doesn't look that bad." Then he leaves. Till this day she still laughs about him calling Brody an "IT." Of course within the next couple of days "it" got alot worse. We actually got the unofficial confirmation on July 4th that Brody would need a transplant to live.
Thanks for listening once again. Hope everyone has a great, and safe fourth of July.
Brody, i bet you, Xavier, Evan, Craig, and Charlie Anna will have an excellent view of the fireworks from Heaven!!!
Love ya Son.
