Willows Road to Recovery

My name is Amber Flynn. I wrote this post to help Terra Vessels and Chris Brucia raise funds, get support, and get their story out there for their newborn daughter Willow Everly Brucia.

Please, if you can, share this Go Fund Me and tell anyone looking to support new parents and their new infant daughter with special medical needs that Terra, Chris and Willow are worth assisting. They need our help now. Any support, likes, shares, and donations are appreciated.

On 07/07/2022, at 6:15 am, Willow Everly Brucia was born to Terra Vessels and Chris Brucia at UC San Diego Hospital in La Jolla, aka Jacobs Medical Center. Moments after arrival, Willow was whisked away for further diagnosis and treatment due to low oxygen levels and obvious breathing difficulties. Terra got to hold her for a few seconds before she was taken. Terra and Chris did not get to bond immediately, as most of us have been blessed. Please keep in mind these little details as they are the ones that have affected them the most.

Another small yet huge detail to keep in mind. At birth, Willow was 7 pounds 9 ½ ounces, 20.5 inches long, a healthy size for a newborn infant. Willow was immediately brought to the NICU and assessed by doctors, specialists and nurses. Directly she was given an NG tube for feeding and a nasal cannula to get the proper amount of oxygen to the brain. Terra has been unable to breastfeed her baby girl; the loss of that bond has been, I'm sure, traumatizing for them both. Terra dreams she will be able to breastfeed when Willow is out of the NICU, if she can without aspirating, getting liquids into her lungs.

In 32 days, life for Willow, Terra and Chris has been complicated and challenging. Willow has multiple diagnoses and was taken to Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego, Nelson NICU, just five days after birth. Terra was in a car accident two weeks ago, resulting in her car's totaling and minor back and neck issues. (She is now going to physical therapy for it) and Chris, while currently in school, has been unable to find steady work that would continue to allow him to support Terra and Willow at Rady.

With limited resources and support in San Diego for Terra, Terra’s mom Joelle travels from Ventura County to help Terra and Chris with anything she can help with, an extra vehicle. At the same time, Chris searches for work with his Truck, dog sitting while they go to see Willow, Grocery shopping, etc. Terra is currently at outpatient services, continuing to work on her recovery. Chris and Terra are prioritizing developing a support group in San Diego, but with little time to do so, they cling tirelessly to Willow and each other. With their only concern being Willow, they are having difficulty juggling all these issues life has thrown at them recently. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, Terra and Chris are the only ones allowed to see Willow in the NICU. Terra continues to pump breast milk for Willow every three hours, and she then drives back to Willow at the NICU for her feeds. She is getting through the NG tube, aka feeding tube.

These are Willows Diagnosis thus far:

#1

Willow's diagnosis includes Retrognathia. As a result, the lower jaw is set back further compared to the upper jaw, making it very difficult for Willow to breathe, swallow and nurse. One cause of the NG tube-feeding tube. This may require Willow to have surgery. Willow is going under anesthesia the week of 8/08/2022 for a CT scan and for a Bronchoscopy to see the extent of her respiratory issues and to determine IF and how far the surgeons will need to bring her Jaw forward. The CT scan will map everything out for what will need to happen for this procedure. Surgeons have let Terra know that Willow will likely need a Jaw reconstruction (Jaw Retractors.) The first surgery to do a bone reconstruction with screws in her jaw, retractors as they call them every day; these screws will be twisted to extend the jaw forward into its rightful place. It will take multiple months to achieve. And a second surgery to finalize this procedure for removing the screws. This procedure and diagnosis of Retrognathia has not been confirmed by Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists and the Plastic Surgeon but will be confirmed as of 08/11/2022 once the CT scan is finalized 08/09/2022.

The plan will likely be that Willow will get a G-tube put into her stomach on 08/12/22 and left in for a year while her epiglottis finishes developing. While this is happening, she will be going to outpatient services working with a team who will teach her how to eat without aspirating her food orally. Terra and Chris will be taking trained to take care of willow properly. Due to her short epiglottis, if she gets even a simple cold, she will be at extreme risk of her throat closing up and will be the proper medical devices at home and medication on hand if this does happen, which Terra and Chris will be ready for.

Terra and Chris will be prepared for any possibilities for Willow before she can be discharged.

#2

Willow also currently has an NG tube due to a shorter Epiglottis, causing her to aspirate her food and causing her to have striders, a scary and persistent sound accompanying her breathing. Thus, Willow cannot bottle feed or breastfeed because she would aspirate and cause severe life-threatening lung damage (fluid would get into her lungs). Doctors have informed Terra that Willow may need a semi-permanent stomach inserted feeding tube after the Jaw Surgery is done and healed to go home. The G- tube could remain for up to 18 months if she cannot orally ingest her food before her medical team comes up with a discharge plan.

#3

Willow also has characteristics and has been diagnosed with Wolf Parkinson White. A sloping rhythm shows up on her EKG, proving this to be true of Wolf Parkinson White diagnosis. Thus, her heart's resting rate relaxing at 130 BPM can, without movement, jump out of nowhere to 200 BPM. But she has no other characteristics and has shown no proof of her heart rate being arithmetic.

Terra, Chris and Willow need financial and emotional support during this time while Chris and Terra are traveling multiple times daily to be with Willow at Rady. It doesn't look like Terra will be able to return to work as an Esthetician anytime soon, with Chris having such unreliable work. Thankfully most medical bills at Rady will be covered; however, at-home and outpatient care will have costs they will struggle to meet. They will need a second vehicle for Terra to get to medical appointments for Willow and more. Terra is almost full-time at the hospital, talking with doctors and spending time supporting and bonding with her daughter. Terra currently has ten months clean and has been attending AA and personal therapy to assist with recovery and mental wellness. Terra and Chris are grateful for Willow's medical care, resources through SDSU Medical Center and Rady Children's Hospital, and the various county and state programs. Still, the cost of living is high in San Diego.

Terra, Chris and Willow are fighters, and they need your help. Willow's road to recovery will be a long journey, both mentally and physically. Prayers, financial gifts, emotional support, suggested resources, assistance and all forms of support are appreciated.