A miracle boy from Owensboro, Kentucky, defied all odds and asked the hospice nurse that took care of him 17 years ago to take his senior photos.
Born with Pfeiffer Syndrome, Braden West's life expectancy is only about 18 months. His condition, which causes abnormalities in a baby's skull, fingers, and toes, makes it difficult for Braden to breathe. His mom, Cheri, said that doctors didn't think he would live at all, and if ever he would, he would be blind and deaf.
At one-month-old, the doctors let Braden's parents bring him home, thinking that he would not make it, Cheri told Owensboro Times. His health deteriorated quickly, and he developed pneumonia, barely a week of being home. His condition has gotten so bad that the doctors decided he needs to be taken to hospice care.
Baby Braden and Michelle's first meeting
It was in hospice care that nurse Michele Eddings Linn met baby Braden. He started to experience respiratory difficulties and discomfort, so the family decided to admit him to hospice care, Michelle explained.
Knowing fully well what could eventually happen to the baby boy, Michelle recalled sitting in the car and praying first before going out to admit Braden. Michelle said that she expected that meeting the baby boy for the first time would be an emotional and tearful moment. She was pleasantly surprised, however, to be greeted at the door by Cheri's beautiful smile, saying "I can't wait for you to meet him... you're going to love him." To which Michelle agrees.
"Take him or make him better"
Michelle said she was not sure at the time if Braden would make it to the morning as she watched him struggle with his respiratory issues throughout the night. She turned to prayer and pleaded that God either take the boy or make him better because it was just too hard for the baby and for his family and everyone else involved in his care.
Then a "miracle" happened. Baby Braden slowly began to recover. After undergoing several procedures and a few months later, he was discharged, which is rare in the world of hospice care. Michelle said that Braden was the first patient that she had the pleasure of discharging. And so Braden would grow up defying every odds and living beyond his life expectancy.
Miracle boy and hospice nurse reunites
Now, seventeen years later, Braden and Michelle will be reunited to celebrate his 18th birthday. Cheri asked her to take Braden's senior photos. Cheri told 13WMAZ that there is no better person to take Braden's high school photos than Michelle - the person that God used to save her son's life.
"As I drove there, I just kept thinking 17 years ago, I cried because I thought his time on earth was ending, and now I'm crying because he is graduating high school, and his life is just beginning!!!" Michelle said.
Throughout their journey, Cheri had this to say, "It's amazing with faith in God what you can get through."
Michelle and Braden: truly an inspiring story of friendship bonded by faith.
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