Bradley on the Brain

Lindsey and Brenton welcomed their son Bradley on February 13, 2018 — a perfect, healthy, and fiercely loved little boy. A beautiful blessing. Life as new parents gifted Lindsey and Brenton with an indescribable amount of joy. With each new day, their love for Bradley grew in intensity — with every feeding, every cuddle, every smile, and with every babble or coo. In June, Lindsey and Brenton observed some changes in Bradley’s behavior. He was having Infantile Spasms, a specific type of seizure. Upon further evaluation and medical testing, Lindsey and Brenton received news that was life changing: Bradley was born with a condition called Lissencephaly, which means “smooth brain.” Lissencephaly is a rare brain malformation characterized by the absence of folds in the outer layer of the cerebrum. There is no cure for Lissencephaly. Although there is no cure, Bradley can still progress in development over time with supportive care. For example: therapies, including physical, occupational, speech, and vision; medications to help control his seizures; specialized equipment to aid in meeting Bradley’s unique needs; routine medical care, including appointments with specialists; etc. This care is essential to Bradley’s quality of life, and it comes with a great financial burden. While Lindsey and Brenton do have health insurance, supportive care for Bradley will require absences from work for appointments, as well as money for traveling expenses to attend those appointments of which many are scheduled at specialty hospitals including The University of Iowa and the Mayo Clinic. These appointment related costs are just scratching the surface of a number of hidden expenses Lindsey and Brenton will face. Any additional funds generated through your caring contribution to this fund would help alleviate the worry Lindsey and Brenton are facing. Your kind donation will provide so much more than monetary value. It will provide Lindsey, Brenton, and Baby Bradley with an overwhelming sense of love, support, and hope. Thank you!