Missouri Family's Agony as Infant Son is Removed from Liver Transplant List
A Missouri family has been plunged into profound distress after their seven-month-old son, who has Down syndrome, was removed from an organ transplant list. Wesley and Ashley Breznik received the devastating news this month that their child, Barrett, had been taken off the liver transplant registry at a Kansas City medical facility.
Critical Condition and Limited Time
Barrett is currently dependent on a ventilator for survival, and his parents have been informed that without a transplant, he may have only a few days left to live. His mother, Ashley, conveyed the urgency of the situation to local media, emphasizing the precarious state of his health.
'We know how sick he is,' Wesley stated. '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 brainer, that's why we're trying everything we can.'
Medical Complications and Transplant Decision
Barrett underwent surgery in November to address a heart condition, but he subsequently faced a series of severe infections following the procedure. Two months after his surgery, he was diagnosed with cirrhosis, necessitating a liver transplant for his survival.
Initially, his medical team placed him on the transplant list. However, Barrett developed another bloodstream infection, leading to his status being made inactive on March 4 while doctors worked to clear the infection. Although recent blood cultures have since returned negative, his care team ultimately concluded that he was too ill 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 expressed. 'And that's not their fault, they're trying to do their best that they can do.'
Parental Advocacy and Community Support
Both of Barrett's parents are healthcare professionals, with his father serving as a paramedic and his mother as a nurse practitioner. They have actively sought alternative treatment options, contacting approximately ten hospitals with assistance from the Children's Mercy pediatric ICU team, which has helped coordinate outreach to other facilities.
Ashley articulated their determination, stating, 'We fully understand how sick he is. 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.' At this juncture, she is simply hoping for more time with her son.
The local community has rallied around the Breznik family, creating 'Barrett Strong' merchandise such as hats, shirts, and sweatshirts, with all proceeds directed to support them. Additionally, a GoFundMe campaign has been established to help cover mounting medical expenses.
