Hey all!

Justin, Renee, and Taiyo welcomed Ocea Lula Brien (Osha) three weeks early on September 1st at BC Children's Hospital. Ocea was born with ‘Trisomy 21’ which is a type of down syndrome. With that came complications as she had to have ‘Duodenal Atresia’ surgery, a procedure that repairs a closure within the intestine, almost immediately after she entered the world at just two days old. The medical staff was hopeful that within a few weeks after her surgery she would be strong enough to go home while they waited for her to continue to gain strength until she could return for another surgery to repair two holes in her heart. As hard as Ocea has been fighting, she hasn’t quite been stable enough for her to leave BCCH and the Brien’s have been living at Ronald McDonald House since. A late September return was pushed back to October, then November, until it was evident that she would need to be in BCCH until she could receive the surgery on her heart that would hopefully set her on the course to be ready to finally come home to Salmon Arm. As she was preparing to have surgery in a few weeks she became unwell and the medical team discovered that she had developed ‘NEC, necrotizing enterocolitis’ which is an intestinal disease that can be fatal if not treated and may or may not last the rest of her life. That has pushed back the surgery date for her once again until January 6th. Justin, Renee and Taiyo have been back and forth between the Ronald McDonald House and the BC Children's Hospital since Sept 1st and are looking to be there until the end of January at the earliest.

I was fortunate enough to visit the Brien’s before the road closures. The conversation consisted of Ocea and how much they appreciated the medical staff, team at Ronald McDonald House, and the support they had received from everyone in their orbit. They’re the kind of family who will continuously say “We are fine, we can make do”. People that expect nothing and appreciate every ounce of kindness they have received.

Know that anything you donate is appreciated beyond measure by a phenomenal family who has been away from work and home for months. We are all rooting for baby Ocea and the Brien’s and cannot wait until there newest addition is ready to finally come home.

For a family that would give anything to help anybody, I know the feeling is mutual from us to them. Thank you for taking the time to read and support baby Ocea, we can not wait until her and her family get to come home!