Phillip and Elisabeth Scott welcomed Brianna Joy into their family on Friday, September 6, 2019 at 1:39pm. At 34 weeks gestation, she weighed just 3lbs and 1oz. Brianna’s name means “Strength and Joy”. She was made in God’s image, He tenderly formed her, and made her wonderfully. Gen. 1:27, Ps 139:13-14, Jer.1:5

Brianna has Trisomy 18, Edwards Syndrome. She has several obstacles to overcome as a result of this life limiting condition. Trisomy 18 can present itself in many ways. Brianna is specifically dealing with a Trachea Esophageal Fistula (TEF), a Ventricle Septal Defect (VSD), low birth weight, breathing issues, and other symptoms common to Trisomy 18 babies.

The wonderful and supportive doctors, specialists, nurses and staff at Mary Washington Hospital quickly delivered Brianna and started supporting her efforts to breathe. She was stabilized and entered the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Mary Washington. Her family was at the hospital to meet her, pray for her, and support each other through the minutes and hours of the unknown. She was finally stable enough to meet her loving older sisters and spend time on her mommy and daddy’s chests.



The morning after she was born, the NICU nurses discovered a breathing complication resulting from her TEF. The NICU doctors had been encouraging Phillip and Elisabeth to consider transporting Brianna to Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. and it became apparent this decision needed to be made sooner rather than later. By Saturday afternoon, Brianna was loaded onto a helicopter and took a quick flight to Children’s National. Shortly behind was her daddy, grandparents and uncles. Mommy had to stay at MWH to continue recovering from surgery and delivery. Children’s Hospital immediately began evaluations and imaging. There were several 3 way calls between daddy, mommy and doctors and specialists. After much prayerful consideration, Brianna was scheduled for surgery to repair the TEF on Sunday morning. The doctors and specialists were optimistic over the outcome despite her small size and other conditions.

Sunday afternoon brought good news from the surgeon. The repair was made, the breathing complication had been addressed, and she was recovering. While recovering from surgery, it was discovered Brianna also has Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA).

Brianna will be in the NICU at Children’s National for quite some time as they continue to monitor her PDA, VSD and recovery. PDA is common among preterm babies, but may require a surgery to close the PDA. A repair to the VSD would have to be another surgical procedure. Babies with Trisomy 18 don’t recover as well from surgeries, so the amazing medical team at Children’s is doing their best to address all issues in the timing that would be most beneficial to Brianna.

At this time, Phillip and Elisabeth are planning on moving their family to Washington DC to accommodations at Ronald McDonald House to be near Children’s Hospital and Brianna.

Donations will go directly towards medical treatment, meals and travel expenses for the family while in DC, and help provide Brianna with the essential specialty care at Children’s National.

Once all medical needs are met any additional funds from contributions will be donated to Children’s National and Ronald McDonald House to support other families in their time of need.