Brayden Garrett Medical Recovery


Brayden's Story November 16th, 2018 - Present (May 2020)

Brayden was on his way to work on November 16th, 2018. Brayden was traveling down I-840, when his car hit black-ice on a overpass making his car shoot across the road, and that's when he collided with a guiderail.

According to witness statement, Brayden's car burst into flames shortly after colliding with the guiderail. We were told by one of the witnesses, that out of nowhere, two individuals pulled Brayden from his burning car to safety on the side of the interstate, and then jumped in a car and left. 

Still to this day, we do not know who those two young men are, but we count our blessings, and pray that one day, we will get to meet them.

After first responders arrived on the scene, it was apparent Brayden suffered life altering injuries, which consisted of severe burns to his entire body, and two broke legs below his knees. The decision was made to Life-Flight Brayden to a local trauma center in Nashville.

After Brayden arrived, and was stabilized, we were informed the doctors ran multiple Doppler test on his legs and there were no pulses. They made the decision to amputate both of his legs below his knees the morning of November 16th, 2018.  Over the coarse of nearly 6 months in a local Burn ICU, Brayden went through approx. 55 surgeries, over 400 hours of sedation for surgery and wound care. It was a time in late December we were told he had bad infection in his left thigh muscle. As his family, we were not ready to give up. We made the decision to have his left leg amputated above his knee. The surgery was a success.  As time, past, his left hand would not heal. It was severely burned down to his tendons.  Again we were faced with a decision.  With Brayden's blessing, we decided to have his left hand amputated. 

Brayden remained in the local Burn ICU until May. After nearly 60 surgeries, and countless infections, we were informed there was nothing else that could be done for Brayden.  I sought out advise from a colleague I had worked with. Mr. Hamm. Mr. Hamm, is a Mason at Al Menah Shrine Temple located in Nashville. 

He introduced us to several key board members for Shriners Hospital for Children Cincinnati.   We met and had a good discussion. He got the blessing from the board, that they would accept Brayden.  We asked Brayden's local care provider to transfer his records and ask for a transfer to Shriners. 

Long story short, we were denied those request.  It was recommended him stay in the hospital on palliative care, and that was not an option for us.

For the love of God, my beautiful wife has been a RN for nearly 20 years, and specifically in Trauma over 14 years.

My wife and I, made the decision to have him discharged in to our care.  Weighing barely 80lbs, with several infections, we took him home and took care of him for approx. 6-8 days. This allowed Brayden the opportunity to reset and enjoy some much needed time home, and see his German Shepherd.  Went we received the all clear from Shriners, we drove him to Cincinnati and was welcomed with open arms.  The entire team at Shriners, was a breath of fresh air. 

Brayden's team went to work immediate. Within 7 days, Brayden gained nearly 30lbs, and was beginning to regain his independence.  After spending time at Shriners in Cincy till July of 2019, Brayden was fully healed, infections gone, and fully on his way to a full recover.  The next phase, was to see if Brayden could ever walk again.  The Cincinnati Shriners team collaborated with the Houston Shriners Team, and Brayden was flown down to Houston in August of 2019, where he remained through the end of September.  He was sent home to continue his outpatient rehab at a local TN facility.

In January 2020, Brayden and me (Dad) flew commercial to Houston. They worked with Brayden very hard, and in early February, Brayden was walking with prosthetic legs.

Due to the COVID, the remaining treatments at Shriners in Cincinnati and Houston have been delayed until August 2020. Brayden will undergo approx. 15-20 more surgeries, several to reconstruct his right hand, and the remaining will be more laser surgeries to his face, hand, arm and chest to address his scaring.

There are so many people we want to thank, and without them believing in Brayden, and the unconditional support from Shriners Hospital for Children, this story would be much different.


In January of 2019, we decided to open a non-profit foundation. The Brayden Garrett Burn Foundation, was created and named after Brayden.  As his family, we wanted an avenue to give back to other organizations that have helped us, and provide assistance to individual and families who have suffered traumatic burn injuries.

All portion of monies raised through GOFUNDME beginning June 1, 2020 will be donated to Shriners Hospital for Children.

Please consider sharing Brayden's story. To learn more about our non-profit foundation, please email us @[email modificata] and visit our website at BGBFinc.com

#BMGSTRONG


https://youtu.be/o23FGWY-qB0