A Missouri family has been left shattered after their seven-month-old with Down syndrome was taken off an organ transplant list.
Wesley and Ashley Breznik were told this month that their son, Barrett, had been removed from the liver transplant list in Kansas City.
His mother told Fox 4 KC that he is currently being supported by a ventilator, but without that lifesaving treatment, he may have only a few days left to live.
‘We know how sick he is,’ Wesley told the outlet. ‘For us, it’s a pretty simple thing here… if he can get one and survive, he lives. If he doesn’t get one, he doesn’t live. So, for us, it’s a no brainier, that’s why we’re trying everything we can.’
Barrett underwent surgery in November for a heart condition, but battled a series of infections after the procedure.
Two months after his surgery, Barrett was diagnosed with cirrhosis, meaning he would need a new liver to survive.
Although his medical team initially placed him on the transplant list, Barrett developed another bloodstream infection and was made inactive on March 4 while doctors worked to clear it.
His mother said doctors planned to reevaluate his status a week later and that his most recent blood cultures had since come back negative.
Wesley and Ashley Breznik were told this month that their son, Barrett, had been removed from the liver transplant list in Kansas City
Barrett underwent surgery in November for a heart condition and battled a series of infections following the procedure
However, Barrett’s care team ultimately determined that he was too sick to undergo a liver transplant.
‘I was devastated. To get a little hope and then, seemingly, in like a week, 10 days just ripped away,’ Wesley said. ‘And that’s not their fault, they’re trying to do their best that they can do.’
Both of Barrett’s parents work in the medical field, his father a paramedic and his mother a nurse practitioner.
Ashley said they have contacted about ten hospitals with assistance from the Children’s Mercy pediatric ICU team, which has been helping coordinate outreach to other facilities. They’re waiting to hear back about alternative options for treatment.
‘For us, it’s a pretty simple thing here…if he can get one and survive, he lives. If he doesn’t get one, he doesn’t live,’ said Wesley. ‘So, for us, it’s a no brainier, that’s why we’re trying everything we can.’
At this point, Ashley said she is just hoping for more time with her son.
‘We fully understand how sick he is,’ his mother said. ‘It’s all so overwhelming. We just want to make sure we have no stone left unturned and that we’ve done everything we can and advocated for him.’
Barrett was diagnosed with cirrhosis two months after his surgery and now needs a new liver to survive
Barrett’s care team ultimately determined that he was too sick to undergo a liver transplant after he was diagnosed with another blood infection
Meanwhile, the community has rallied around the family, creating ‘Barrett Strong‘ hats, shirts, and sweatshirts, with all proceeds going to the Brezniks.
A GoFundMe has also been created to help the family cover medical bills.
