Update: 11/22/2016 - 11 Months Post Transplant

Update: 13 months post transplant y'all!!!!! Wooooohooooo!!!! That means 72% of this little line backers life is with his unbelievable amazing new little liver!!!!!

He is doing awesome. His liver is great. We are still eyeballing that portal vein blood clot that has the three stents. We will probably have to do a procedure this year to expand and open the stents. He was 21 lbs when they were placed and now he is almost a whopping 32 lbs - chubba bubba!!!!! so as he grows we will have to expand and allow the portal vein to grow with him to support his growth.

His favorite things: tractors, cars, balls, books, elmo, cookie monster, his sister, his daddy, torturing the dog, running around like a maniac, anything dangerous that gives his mama a heart attack - you know ALL BOY!!!!! Oh and eating!!!! How could I forget that???? And attention. Any and all attention.

He is awesome. So very grateful to hit yet another milestone. He is a warrior, his sister teaches him to be brave and gives him pep talks and prayers on hospital days, his daddy gets him rough and tough by wrestling with him and throwing him around and me, well his Mama just does what Mamas are supposed to - we all know God created us Mama Bears to do his work - trying every day give my babes the strength, wisdom and love they need to rock in this thing called life.

As you all have so often told me "Find your Tribe. Love them hard."

Everyday. Every. Single. Day.

#BGVT #bethegooddolife 
#DOnateLIFE #brodiesgoodvibetribe #TIGUEtough #sliverofliver#biliaryatresiawarrior #thegoodstuff #give2live

Update: 11/21/2016 - Project Purpose

Yesterday I met such a cool group - they help littles take on the sidewalks one bike at a time! These are pediatric fighters who are recovering from big illnesses/challenges and they help them with their wellness by getting them some sweet rides AKA bikes! Nicole was our table buddy and told me all about @projectpurposeorg they got their 501(c)3 the same time we did!!! Cannot get enough of people #beingthegood what was your #thegoodstuff today?? #bethechangeyouwanttosee #BGVT#bethegooddolife 
#DOnateLIFE #brodiesgoodvibetribe #give2live

Update: 11/20/2016 #AG4BGVT

Remember this time last year? When a little boy was surrounded by card love? Literally surrounded??? THE all time greatest card company – American Greetings loved on us – I came home to over 200+ cards that were sent to care of the Tigue Tribe - they lifted our spirits with #AG4Brodie – I know I will never forget – the care, the feelings and the love that we felt with each signature and note on every card.

Today we got to start a little movement #AG4BGVT at the 2nd annual A Special Wish Cleveland Chapter Princess Ball Fundraiser put on by ASW at SouthPark Mall With Kristi Capel from Fox 8 News - little princesses and parents created over 100 cards and handmade pictures that we will send to people who need support or a lift and some GOOD VIBES!!!!!

What an amazing event BGVT was so honored to be a part of. As we are getting started with our nonprofit and "being the good" to pay it forward to those who need it.

The princesses (and some princes, too) took time they could have been spending meeting the Disney princesses, to draw pictures, write messages of well wishes and happy thoughts to send to people who are in the hospital. And they took their jobs very seriously, too, spending a lot of time drawing the prettiest pictures and making sure everything was perfect.

We were also able to spread the message about what Brodie's Good Vibe Tribe is all about -- what each of you helped us create -- a tribe that rallies around those who need their spirits lifted.

Want your littles, bigs or in betweens to help lift spirits and spread positivity? Have a church, scout, sports team that you want to teach to think of others.

Send us your cards, colored pictures, artwork, paintings for us to send out!
 ATTN: BGVT 5039 Walden Lane Brunswick OH 44212

Check out the photo album for ALL pictures taken <3 <3

#BGVT #bethegooddolife #DOnateLIFE #brodiesgoodvibetribe#TIGUEtough #sliverofliver #biliaryatresiawarrior #thegoodstuff #give2live#ASW #AG4BGVT

Update: 11/18/2016 - Celebrating the THANKS in the Giving

Wake up every morning being thankful for the GIFT OF LIFE. Never let a day pass without LOOKING FOR THE GOOD. Stop focusing on how stressed you are, instead of how BLESSED you are. These are Mama Bear Warrior words - it has been a long week TGIF! Blessed. Thankful. Grateful.#BGVT #bethegooddolife 
#DOnateLIFE #brodiesgoodvibetribe #TIGUEtough #sliverofliver#biliaryatresiawarrior #thegoodstuff #give2live

EMMA STRONG

I can remember in the very beginning of our journey I was so thankful and grateful, even given the terrifying gravity of our situation that the organ that was impacted for our sweet little guy was the liver.

Why? It was something we help fix, we could do live organ donation, we had a little control - but it was something.

I remember telling myself I could not imagine Brodie having an issue with an organ that I couldn't give, that would be so devastating and constricting. And yet parents rise up all over the time, battle, conquer and their littles defeat ALL odds and ROAR back to life.

These littles are able to do this because of the selfless gift of life - paying it forward from another family in their time of grief. That is the only way.

There is a family here in Cleveland right now who was blessed with a beautiful baby girl, Emma on 11/07 - she was 6LBS & 10 OZ of straight LOVE.

She made a little boy a big brother, a Mommy & Daddy so proud to be a family of 4.

Sweet Emma was diagnosed with Pulmonary Atresia with IVS & Hypoplastic Right Ventricle (HRHS).

This sweet family now find themselves in the Cleveland Clinic Children's PICU - Emma has already had a major surgery - a BT Shunt was placed to help her continue to live.

She has had some complications and is in critical condition and on life support.

8 day old Emma has an incredible chance to live.

A heart transplant.

This is the only option for sweet Emma to have 2nd chance at life.

You can read more of their story here https://emmasheartblog.wordpress.com/

"We very much believe in the power of prayer. Please pray & spread the word for a miracle heart for baby Emma – it means the world to us."

Please Brodie's Good Vibe Tribe send GOOD VIBES, LIGHT UP THE PRAYER WARRIORS, SEND THE BEST, BIGGEST INTENTIONS - send this beautiful family courage, faith, love, fight and strength for them to get through the long nights and scary days.

Help them find light in this dark time.

GOOD VIBES ONLY. GIVE LIFE. GIFT LIFE.

#EMMASTRONG #BGVT #bethegooddolife #DOnateLIFE #give2live#brodiesgoodvibetribe

Update: 11/12/2016 - Donor Sabbath - TRIO

Had an amazing day today – I don’t know if I can express the inspiration, gratitude, amazing overwhelming thankfulness that we have for our Liver Tale. We were invited by TRIO Greater Cleveland to participate in an amazing ceremony today for Donor Sabbath Weekend.

We were surrounded and embraced by such an incredible group of people – recipients, families of donors, medical team members, families and people all who have been part of the 2nd chance of life circle.

The Church Mary Queen of Peace graciously invited us in and the most amazing A Cappella Choir from The Heights High School - sang IN.CRED.I.BLY. I will post a video to showcase some of the angelic sounds.

We listened, silently cheered, tearfully mourned, celebrated and cherished the true miracle of Organ Donation & Transplantation.

Marie Budev – Medical Director, Lung Transplant Program Cleveland Clinic was the keynote speaker, she shared with us some incredible stories that she has encountered.

There was one thing that really stayed with me.

She talked about something she shares with some of her patients that for each transplant there is 150-200 people involved who truly made the transplant possible.

Let me just go Traci here for a second – “ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?? OMG I KNEW IT WAS A LOT BUT HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!” I cannot.even. Do you know what a MISSION that is? Do you know what an AMAZING FEAT that is?

Here is something to ponder. When I think of what Brodie and I went through with our team at @Cleveland Clinic Children's - I am only left with this thought:

• 200 people got up knowing they were coming in to save a little, little boys life. 
 • 200 people got up to come into work knowing they were helping a Mama try, try, try to save her little boys life. 
 • 200 people got up to come into work knowing that there were two peoples lives in their hands. 
 • 200 people got up to come into work to create a 2nd chance
• 200 people had to leave their lives, 100% focus and make sure there were no errors for a miracle to happen

Amazing.

We then had a beautiful candle ceremony honoring donors – it highlighted how one donor family saying yes to organ and tissue donation of a loved one is able to save the lives of eight people and enhance the lives of more than 50 individuals.

We then had a beautiful reading by Beth Hyland a Social Worker on the Lung Transplant Team at the Cleveland Clinic. She read STRENGTH by Ms. Moem. I loved a verse out of it:

Don’t Underestimate the silent strength that you don’t even know you possess.

And then we had some beautiful reflection by Suzanne Himes – President of TRIO Greater Cleveland

And to bring it home nothing better than the amazing song “FOR GOOD” by Stephen Schwartz – (also the last song in WICKED) - this choir. Chills. Amazing. Happy Tears.

Through this journey we have discovered this amazing world of rebirth and second chances because of the power of organ donation.

• 120,000 men, women and children await lifesaving organ transplants. 
• More than 1,000 of them are 10 years old or younger. 
• About 58% of patients awaiting lifesaving transplants are minorities. 
• Another person is added to the nation’s organ transplant waiting list every 10 minutes. 
• Sadly, 8,000 people die each year - 22 people each day, almost 1 every hour - because the organs they need are not donated in time.

Please say a prayer for those who have gifted life after a life lost, received life through donation, lived to donate life and those who are waiting for their name to be called off the list.

We will continue encourage others to BE THE GOOD and DO LIFE.

Give Life. Gift Life. It is amazing.

#BGVT #bethegooddolife #DOnateLIFE #brodiesgoodvibetribe#TIGUEtough #sliverofliver #biliaryatresiawarrior #thegoodstuff #give2live#donorsabbath

Update: 10/29/2016

Update: Last year. This time. I was watching my little guy fight the most epic battle. I watched from the outside in. I gave up my privilege of being his side kick, his healer, his soother, his ultimate caretaker – you know everything that Mother’s nightmares are made of - not being there when your baby needs you most, when your baby is sick, when you should be there…

I decided that giving him what he needed most, outweighed how I was going to “feel” about the hardships when I decided I was going to be his liver donor.

I didn’t know how I was going to do that but I looked at my husband (Russell) , my mother (Leslie) and our nurse practitioner (Cathy Tichy-Dreher) and the rest of the team at the Cleveland Clinic Children's and somehow I convinced myself they could replace me as a Mother and take care of my little guy.

The fight I saw him battle was so hard – but I was being protected. My health and well being was put first – my husband, mother and amazing Cleveland Clinic team took the reigns and guided my little man over hurdles.

Last year on this day Brodie had such a bad day.

We thought it was so cute all day he was trying to look at me I was towering above him as he was gently and delicately placed on my lap his eyes rolled right to the top of his head “to try to see me” and then the same as his big sister and our family came all together, to see him – there was a lot to be excited about!

When in reality his little body was in overdrive, adapting to new normals, medication and trying to fight.

He just could not get himself (or his body would not let him get to sleep)…. We finally realized what was going on and helped him find some sleep.

I thought to myself that night… How is my little boy ever going to be alright? How are we every going to recover from this? We will never be out of here. I just want him to have a normal life.

I took a deep breath sitting in the PICU waiting room waiting for the elevator to come and take me to my floor, my building away from my child and told myself I needed to trust. I needed to trust medicine. I needed to trust science. I needed to trust God. I needed to trust my family. I needed to trust the care givers.

I just needed to let it go and allow the “logic” that I justified to myself when I decided to be the bystander, the liver giver, the mother in the other building and allow the treatment, fixing and healing to happen.

It did.

If you ever question whether or not you should be a living donor to your child. You should.

If you ever question whether or not you should save someone’s life. You should.

If you ever wonder if you should be an anonymous donor to someone. You should.

If you want to save someone’s life on this planet. You should.

If you wonder if your should check yes on your license registration. You should.

Because no matter how hard the battle is to regain life. At least they have a second chance.

As we fast forwarded to this year and as we were planning BGVT Barn Bash – I kept thinking to myself how do I embrace this world of organ donation. How can I story tell what an amazing thing called giving life and gifting life – being an organ donor.

I blended the fun, with the serious and the inspirational and came up with a Selfie Awareness Organ Donation Station.

Check it out.

Say YES to Giving and Gifting Life.

Be the Good. Do Life.

#BGVT #bethegooddolife #DOnateLIFE #brodiesgoodvibetribe#TIGUEtough #sliverofliver #biliaryatresiawarrior #thegoodstuff #give2live
#bethegooddolife

Update: 10/28/2016 - 501(c)3

 

Normally mail from the IRS would have me shaking in my boots. However when it is a little dream coming true and you are going to be able to change lives because of it - you might cry... Dance... Laugh... And chant BGVT!!!!!! We are officially a 501(c)3!!!!!! Eeeeeekkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Be the Good. Do Life. 

#BGVT #bethegooddolife #DOnateLIFE#brodiesgoodvibetribe #TIGUEtough #sliverofliver#biliaryatresiawarrior #thegoodstuff #give2live
#bethegooddolife