DraydenStrong
Hi Everyone ,
My Name is Drayden and I am 18 months old. With my grandmas help I am going to tell you my story. I was born on March 22, 2019. It was WAY to early, I guess I was just excited to see my mommy. I only weighed 1lb 3oz but they say great thing come in small packages. My momcouldn’t hold me, rock me or cuddle me for a long time, but she loved me at first site!
I had to spend 446 day’s in the hospital beforeI came home. I had over 10 surgeries. At one point, the hospital I was born at was ready to give up on me because nothing seemed to be working. I’m lucky though, because my mommy is a fighter and had me flown to a hospital in Chicago. With the help from the doctor’s, nurse , my mommy and daddy, God and all the prayers, I AM HERE TODAY!
My diagnoses right now are Pulmonary Hypertension, Pulmonary Vein Stenosis and ChronicLung Disease.
I am on a tracheostomy and A ventilator 24/7. I also have a feeding tube in my tummy, because I could never drink a bottle. But guess what, Iam finally able to eat tiny amounts of baby food and I LOVE IT!
I have four different nurses that come in and help take care of me and they are all wonderful. I still have to have procedures on my heart every six months, but I am growing. I’m finally 20 lbs. I also have physical, speech and developmental therapies every month.
I know my mom is proud of me, but I am proud of her too. She has really been through a lot. My mommy is a full time student to become a nurse. I love nurses by the way, mine call be Dr. Dray! I watch her study, and she looks real tired a lot of the times, but she doesn’t quit. She’s trying to get a good education so that she can give me the best life possible. My mommy can’t work right now, because we are both Immuno compromised.
We have a lot of bills from when I was in the hospital that insurance did not cover. My family really wanted to have a fundraiser to raise money but because of this crazy Covid we can’t do it. This is why I’m telling everyone my story. My mommy always helps me, so I want to try to help her so she doesn’t worry so much.
We really do appreciate anything and everything you can do to help us. I’m really happy you read my story. It’s important to me. Keep the prayers coming.
love , Drayden !
