One year. One year since we were told that our healthy 2-and-a-half-year-old boy would need an emergency surgery to save his life. On October 21, 2018 Henry was running around, playing with his baby brother and headed to a birthday party when his life changed forever. He began to have a seizure while in the car with his dad, which we now know was caused by a rare brain aneurysm that had begun to rupture in three places. Henry was rushed into a very rare and risky surgery to clip the aneurysm that was located two inches into the right side of his brain. Henry’s aneurysm was 16mm, three times the size of those seen in adults. Henry’s aneurysm fully ruptured during surgery and he suffered a major brain hemorrhage causing a stroke. After a lengthy surgery his team notified us that Henry survived, but barely. Once out of surgery and in the PICU his doctors said they were doing all they medically could, but ultimately it was up to Henry and God to fight. Those early days in the hospital were a roller coaster with signs of healing followed by extreme lows where we almost lost him on several occasions. Henry spent 10 days in a medically induced coma, and a total of four weeks in the PICU at Cardon Children’s Medical Center before being transferred to the inpatient neuro rehab at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Henry worked 3+ hours a day with speech, occupational and physical therapists. In the ten weeks spent inpatient at Phoenix Children’s we witnessed Henry learn how to hold his head up, roll over, stand, walk, talk and eat again. Since being discharged in January Henry continues to make great progress every single day!

To celebrate this milestone, we have organized a virtual blood drive. Without the 3 units of blood Henry was able to receive during surgery he would not have survived. We are forever grateful to the angels who donated. We urge you to go be someone’s angel and donate blood today. #hopeforhenry #bravefighter #sleevesupforhenry