Preemie’s NICU Journey
Wyatt Brenner was born at only one pound eight ounces as a preemie baby. After a rough delivery, he suffered from internal bleeding, an abscess in his stomach, and a perforated intestine. Because of this, Wyatt was transported to a NICU over an hour away for surgery. Wyatt and the family spent 113 days in the NICU recovering and growing before the family was able to go home.
“My husband was back and forth between McAlester & Tulsa working and taking care of the house/dogs to being at the hospital with Wyatt & I. I left the hospital as little as possible. It was the biggest blessing to be at St. Francis in Tulsa because it was the best of the best NICU team,” Wyatts mom, Jessica, tells Love What Matters. “From the security guards at the front desk to the janitorial staff, cafeteria, respiratory therapists, speciality staff of surgeons, GI teams, and (saving the best for last) the nurses and neonatologists, it was all God. It was isolating at times but also like we were living in a whole different world with primary nurses and medical teams that became family.”
The time in the NICU was made easier for the family because of the support they got from the hospital workers to family members to strangers and volunteers. The difficult time was made easier knowing what support was out there for them.
“The Ronald McDonald House in Tulsa will forever be one of our greatest blessings; they provided a bedroom with a bathroom and shower and a community kitchen and living area. It was a home away from home in the scariest season of our lives,” Jessica says. “We also had friends step up and take care of our dogs and home. We had financial gifts for bills and food while in the hospital. We had prayer warriors daily praying for Wyatt.”
Wyatt’s Road To Recovery
Wyatt’s stay at the NICU ended just two weeks before Covid lockdowns, and while that was difficult, Jessica is thankful that the family was able to grow and heal in their own home. In an Instagram video, Jessica shares her gratitude for the two and a half years she’s had with her son.
View this post on Instagram
The comments are an outpouring of support and love for Jessica and Wyatt’s journey and offer well wishes and hopes for the family as Wyatt grows up. This support has shown Jessica how important her story can be as a beacon of hope for others going through times like this. Now a full-grown toddler, Wyatt has had some difficulties as a result of his illnesses, but is growing into a strong and independent boy.
“Wyatt is walking and talking. He goes to a 3-year-old program at a local Christian school and is learning new things every day! He goes to physical therapy and occupational therapy weekly and will start speech therapy back again soon!” Jessica tells Love What Matters. “He is joy and sunshine! He is the happiest boy; he doesn’t meet a stranger and will wave at everyone. He loves people and has a smile that could break the hardest shell of a person! God has big plans for this boy.”
The Brenner family shows that there is light at the end of dark and difficult times. With love and support they have been able to overcome the odds to give Wyatt a happy, healthy, and loving life.
This article was written exclusively for Love What Matters by Anna Steingruber. You can follow Jessica Brenner on Instagram. Submit your own story here and be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.
Read More Like This:
Boy Who Survived The Impossible After NICU Catheter Punctured Vein Now Thriving 2-Year-Old
Do you know someone who could benefit from reading this? SHARE this story on Facebook with family and friends.