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50th Annual

Sunday March 25, 2012

Official Countdown To Telethon 2012:

Chase's parents are Julie and Dustin and this is their incredible story as told by them!
 
In June of 2011 we received news that our first baby would be born with a rare condition called "Gastroschisis." Neither of us had ever heard of the condition, and right away we went into panic mode. We came to learn that his intestines were floating on the outside of his body, rather than being inside with the rest of his stomach where they belonged. My local doctor sent us to a specialist in Rochester where we had a terrible experience, and right away we said that we wanted to be in Buffalo instead. We had heard nothing but great things about Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo, and after our very first appointment our minds were at ease. We were prepared for our child with Gastroschisis, however we were not so prepared to invite him into the world six weeks early! I was taken to Buffalo from Wellsville by Mercy Flight on October 11th, and finally on October 14, 2011 Chase was born. I didn't even expect to be able to hold him, but all of the doctors and nurses are wonderful about making you feel just a little bit more comfortable in whatever way that they can. They wrapped him up really well so all of his intestines were secure and gave me a minute with my baby boy. Then they told me to kiss him goodbye, they would take good care of him, and I would see him soon. Talk about tear jerking. One nurse in particular I will never forget. During the four long and brutal days of contractions, this nurse was in and out of my room getting me whatever I needed, even when she had a million other things that she was doing. She always made the time to ask me how I was holding up. Even when it came time to deliver, she was right at my side holding my hand and rooting me on while I cried. Everyone was wonderful. As soon as Chase was out of surgery, his surgeon's first stop was the recovery room to see us. He was very optimistic and told us we could go see him in the NICU whenever we felt up to it. Our first time seeing Chase in the NICU was overwhelming to say the least, but at the same time so joyous. The waterworks started all over again and the NICU nurses were right there to answer all of our questions with a tissue box in hand. Literally. Along with the NICU staff, the facility itself was amazing. Just to name a few things... Private rooms for moms who need to pump, endless amount of freezer space for your baby's milk, a great waiting room for family and friends, and cute electronic traffic lights in each room for noise control... You name it, they have it. Without going into any gruesome details, Chase had two surgeries. The first was to place a "silo" that held his intestines so they could slowly be lowered back inside day by day. On day 10 he had his second surgery to close it all up, and they made him a belly button since he was born without one. Chase wasn't expected to come home for about three months, but his progression was so great that he made it home in only a month. I know for a fact that if it weren't for the great staff, especially his two primary nurses, he wouldn't have progressed nearly as fast as he did. They got to know him almost as well as I did so they knew just how much they could push him. They did a wonderful job and I can't imagine any other hospital caring for our baby boy. Chase is home now and doing great. He's a very happy baby with no prolonging health issues... just a silly looking belly button. :) I will never forget the smell of the hospital, the site of our son in such a vulnerable state, the sound of his vitals "ding ding ding." Every second of his journey was an unforgettable one. It was Chase's first home. We couldn't be more thankful for everyone at Women and Children's who helped him get to where he is now.

Maura Lizbeth Brady was born March 7, 2001 to Shawn and Renee Brady. Maura also has an older brother, Devin. Maura's parents discovered that she would have health issues at Renee's first sonogram. During that sonogram, and further monitoring during the pregnancy, kidney problems were detected.

As soon as Maura was born, antibiotics were started and she was referred to a pediatric urologist at Women & Children's Hospital. Through many exams and sonograms Maura was found to have an ectopic ureter, reflux in both kidneys and a third malformed kidney. Due to continued breakthrough infections, the strength of antibiotics had to keep increasing. This caused stomach problems for Maura. Because of this, she was only 12 pounds at 10 months old. Doctors had hoped to hold off on surgery until the age of 2 but they decided that intervention was needed immediately. In the process of monitoring Maura's kidney health, it was discovered that she also had a heart murmur. During all this, Maura was also found to have two clubbed feet and was referred to the orthopedic clinic at Children's. Maura was fitted with braces for both feet and received regular physical therapy with Niagara County Early Intervention. Because of all of the early detection and wonderful care at Children's Hospital, Maura has no lasting effects from any of her medical problems.

Today, Maura is a healthy 11 year old, fifth grader at Emmet Belknap Intermediate school in Lockport. She is involved in many activities both in and out of school. She plays the saxophone and the piano and likes to make music together with her brother who plays the guitar, bass and is learning the drums. She is a member of the drama club. Maura has also been dancing since age three. She has taken tap, jazz, ballet and hip hop. She also likes to express her artistic talents through painting and writing. Through the Western New York Young Writers Studio Maura has had some poetry published. Maura enjoys swimming, hiking, camping and spending time with her friends and family. In addition she enjoys reading and loves to travel. She always looks forward to going to Florida to visit her grandparents and while there she enjoys going to the beach and Disney World. She hopes to visit Paris someday. She is a huge animal lover and helps to care for the many pets that her family has rescued over the years. She would like to study cosmetology and have her own salon when she is older. Maura has been bisy seeling candy bars for the Telethon and her brother Devin helps her sell them and always is giving her encouragement. Maura will help Devin by volunteering at some of his scouting events.

The Brady family is very grateful to Women & Children's Hospital and all of the doctors for everything they have done to help make Maura the healthy, happy young lady she is today.