15-year-old Brewer in surgery today

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15-year-old Brewer in surgery today

La Vergne teen Brewer is in surgery this morning at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh where a failed transplanted small bowel is being removed.“They came and got him about 7:30” this morning, his mother, Brande Brewer, said in a phone call at around 9:30 a.m. today from the hospital. “The surgery will last at least eight hours, could be up to 12.“He was scared, but he was very, very brave,” Brewer said. “I am very proud of him for being so brave.”After the surgery, “will be in intensive care three to five days, if not longer,” she added.The 15-year-old took his first flight to Pittsburgh via air ambulance 11 years ago to receive the original small bowel transplant. At the time, that organ allowed him to absorb nutrients from food. Prior to the transplant, he had been unable to get his nourishment without tube feedings because of a rare genetic condition, Hirschsprung’s disease. But the tube feedings he endured to survive were destroying his liver.’s first transplant allowed his liver to be saved at that time, but during today’s surgery, a biopsy will be done of his liver to see if it has now been damaged to the point that he will also need a transplant for it.After the original small bowel transplant at age 4, was able to eat normally, attend public school and even play youth league baseball. But as the years have gone by, his body began to reject the transplanted organ.After today’s surgery, should qualify for a new transplant in three to six months, his mother said. needs the community’s prayers, his mother said today.A trust fund has been set up for the Brewer family to cover the high medical expenses. Donations can be made to First Tennessee Bank, c/o Brewer, 770 Nissan Drive, Smyrna, TN 37167.To learn more about and follow his mother’s journal of their experiences, log on to www.caringbridge.org. Click on “visit a CaringBridge site” and then type in brandonbrewer.

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