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Henry’s Story

Site created on October 13, 2023

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We have been using it to keep family and friends updated in one place on Henry’s NICU stay and his recent passing. We appreciate your prayers, support, and words of love and care. Thank you for visiting.

Henry Louis Koprucki was born on Saturday, October 7 at 10:57pm. He was quickly diagnosed after birth with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), a serious condition that can particularly result in complications related to breathing and lung development. He was transported to the NICU at Children’s Hospital of Alabama in Birmingham that night. Throughout the following day, Henry’s oxygen levels continued to deteriorate to the point that he had to be placed on ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) - an external life-support system that oxygenates a patient's blood outside his body - in an attempt to give his lungs time to rest and recover. Henry’s condition stabilized, and this began seven weeks of treatments to try to restore his heart and lung function and bring him safely off ECMO. However, by the end of this time, it became clear that Henry's lungs were not capable of sustaining his life, and nothing further could be done for him therapeutically. Trusting in God's loving care, and out of respect for Henry's dignity and integrity, we had to make the immensely difficult decision to let him go. Henry Louis Koprucki passed gently and peacefully from our arms into the arms of our Heavenly Father around 1:23am on Sunday, December 3rd, 2023.

Though Henry is no longer with us on earth, his story is not over. We will continue to use this page to share updates on our family and reflections on Henry's life and death as we are able. Thank you for walking with us on this journey.

Newest Update

Journal entry by Jessica Andrews Koprucki — Dec 14, 2023

The link to livestream Henry’s funeral Mass (beginning at 10am CST on Friday, 12/15) is below—you will be able to view it live, and access the video afterwards as well. It means so much to Michael and I to know that loved ones will be praying for and with us as we say a final earthly goodbye and lift up our gratitude for the gift of Henry’s life.

Livestream:

https://m.youtube.com/live/rzD2qvlabD0?feature=share

We miss our sweet little guy every moment, and that’s how it will be, how it should be because of how much love he gave us and we gave him. There are good days and hard days, and always, there is love. Thank you, Henry Louis. 💙

Read More of the journal titled "Update for December 14-15"

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