11-24-25–Update on the Past Year
To refresh your memory, on November 27, 2024, Brycen’s mom, Lisa, took him to the ER for what she thought was a UTI. Instead, after 7 hours of waiting, Brycen became septic. The hospital staff did 25 minutes of chest compressions and multiple epinephrine shots before a pulse was found.
I wanted to do a very detailed update on Brycen’s year since then but, truly, it is all so overwhelming so I’m going to do some bullet points:
Since 11-27-24:
• Brycen has had multiple surgeries and procedures. I’m talking way into the double digits.
• Brycen has not eaten even one bite of food.
• Brycen has multiple appointments every week for OT, PT, therapy, etc…
•Lisa has had to become Brycen’s full-time caregiver. She does get paid by the state, but the amount is less than half of what she made in her previous employment. On top of this, the state has cut the amount she used to receive by half! She is allowed 159 hours per month for around-the-clock care-giving.
•Brycen has spent all of his time in beds and wheelchairs, never getting to run and play like most 10-year-old boys. He can stand and walk a limited amount.
•Brycen’s care has been taken over by Children’s Mercy in Kansas City. They drive there several times a month for appointments, procedures and surgeries. Brycen has been life-flighted there 3 times.
•Brycen has not been able to go to school, which he misses very much.
•The family has had to move to another, much smaller, rental in order to save money.
•Brycen recently had surgery for a bowel obstruction and now will continue to be susceptible to them. He also has either had diarrhea or vomiting almost every day in the last year.
How You Can Help:
• Pray! Although we get discouraged by all Brycen continues to go through, we know God is the ultimate healer. Please continue to pray for his healing. Also, pray his health is stable in January. Make-A-Wish approved him for a trip to Disney World, and we desperately want him to be able to go and to enjoy his time there.
•Give! I know so many of you have given in the last year, and what a blessing that has been. But Brycen’s needs remain great so I’m asking you to dig deep and give again. If you are unable to give financially, please share this post so others might give.
If you have any questions, please contact me at (316) 617-0347 or conniejworkman@hotmail.com. If you’d like to follow Brycen’s story, you can do that on Facebook by joining “Brycen’s Journey”.
Thank you so much for your continued support of our precious boy!
12-31—Update on Brycen
First of all, I just have to thank everyone for the support you’ve shown to Brycen. It is amazing to see how Brycen’s story has touched people. Lisa is beyond grateful.
We are now on Day 35 in the hospital, Since I first posted, so much has happened to our sweet boy. He had his 6th surgery yesterday and will have another tomorrow, with more to come. The pain he continues to deal with is incredibly heart-breaking. His biggest issue at the moment is that he desperately needs nutrition. His body is not cooperating with anything that has been tried. He has vomited more than I have in my entire life. He keeps losing weight, and he just doesn’t have any to lose.
Yet, our boy still greets everyone with a smile. Today he played video games with my daughter, Sam, and he asked a nurse to marry him. Our boy is definitely still shining through!
As I said, we are so thankful for the money that’s been given. But as we are learning what Brycen’s needs will be when he is able to go home, the expense seems overwhelming. Lisa is applying for assistance, but we do not yet know what he will receive. His feeding pump and cans of food alone will cost approximately $1,500 a month. He will also have to have home health and all kinds of therapies. With all of this going on, we also don’t know when Lisa will be able to leave him for work. It is A LOT.
Because of all of this, I am increasing the amount we are asking on the SpotFund. Please keep sharing Brycen’s story and his needs.
Lastly, to those of you who keep faithfully praying, thank you, and please keep taking Brycen before the Lord. We know that Jesus saved our boy and that He is continuing to save him everyday. But we need complete healing for Brycen. We are ready to see him dancing around the room, as he loves to do!
If you have any questions, please feel free to message me at cjwork4710@gmail.com.
Hello! My name is Connie Workman. On 11-27-2024 my dear friend, Lisa, took her 9 year-old son, Brycen, to the ER for what she thought was a possible urinary tract infection. After a CT scan they admitted Brycen to the pediatric floor, believing he had an extremely large impaction. This process took 7 hours, and the doctor told Lisa that he was in the first stage of septic shock. But once they got to his room, within 10 minutes, he stopped breathing.
Five doctors and nurses did chest compressions for 25 minutes and Brycen was given multiple epinephrine shots before they were able to tell Lisa that they had found a pulse.
Brycen was put on a ventilator and had over 32 IV lines for medications. At that point, his stomach started distending, and the doctors let Lisa know that Brycen was dying. They could do surgery to release the pressure, but there was a good chance he would not survive the surgery.
Lisa opted for the surgery to give him a chance. When they opened him up, the impaction was not actually an impaction but was liquid, however 90% of his colon was necrotic and had to be removed. To this day, the doctors are still uncertain as to what caused this. They keep saying that everything is a mystery with him!
Brycen survived the surgery and the first 24 hours after. He was taken off the ventilator after 6 days, and 3 days after that he was moved to the pediatric ward.
Brycen is still in the hospital (27 days and counting) and will need to be there for many more weeks (or months). His recovery has been remarkable in the sense that he suffered no brain damage from when he stopped breathing. The medical staff refer to him as “Miracle Boy.”
However, he has also had so many setbacks. Brycen has had four surgeries in total so far, and will need at least one more. His pain has been excruciating, and it is so hard to see him like this. But…he is alive, and we are all thankful.
This is where you come in. Lisa is a single mom. I’ve never seen another mom who sacrifices so much for her child. She has always put Brycen first in every way. Brycen also has Autism, and Lisa has been such an incredible advocate for her son.
Brycen has an older sister who is working part-time, but that is the only income the family has at all, as Lisa cannot leave Brycen’s side. To top it all off, Lisa received a call from her boss today, informing her that she was being “let go”. They are in danger of losing everything.
You can help in the following ways:
- PRAY—Brycen needs healing. We have seen God work miracles, and we are asking Him to do more!
- GIVE—I ask you to give as much as you can. Their needs are so great.
- SHARE—Let’s get the word out about our amazing boy and the needs of his family!
We will update about Brycen’s condition as is possible. There is so much more to his story.
Thank you all for helping Brycen and his family!! 💜
