50% of this little warrior love nuggets life has been with his new liver!!! What a milestone!!!!!! Later Biliary Atresia! DONATE LIFE!!!#aintnoliverlikemamasliver #sliverofliver #tiguetough#brodiesgoodvibetribe
Update: 03/18/2016 - HOT OFF THE PRESSES - BGVT at the TRIBE
03/18/2016
SAVE THE DATE – HOT OFF THE PRESSES – ALERT!! ALERT!! Our INCREDIBLE friends at the Cleveland Clinic have invited us (The Tigue’s) to THROW OUT THE FIRST PITCH at a Cleveland Indians GAME.
04/16/16 – Saturday, April 16th 2016 at 4:10PM – we will be getting an ENTIRE SECTION for BGVT with SPECIAL DISCOUNTED pricing – I am waiting on the link to share.
SAVE THE DATE – Write it down – in ink. Plug it into your phone calendar - right now. Call your friends. Bring the family. Get a babysitter. Get a group. Come by yourself. Whatever – Just COME! EVERYONE and ANYONE is invited – as long as they bring GOOD VIBES.
APRIL is DONATE LIFE month and that is what this is all about.
Celebrate what Cleveland Clinic Children's + a sliver of liver did for Brodie = 2nd chance at life and what an amazing gift ORGAN DONATION is.
I am calling on the biggest supporters I know - COME, RALLY WITH US and let your battle cry out and let’s get your BGVT ON for DONATING LIFE.
I will be throwing out the first pitch, yes me, Holy Cannoli! My little-leagueing, softball-loving, baseball-obsessed tail could not even DREAM ABOUT THIS! Whether I will be curve-balling, throwing the heat, giving the knuckleball, spitting a forkball, getting my four-seamed fastball on or just simply trying to get the dang ball over the plate to help the CLEVELAND INDIANS start the game – this is HAPPENING.
Inside Scoop: Brodie may or may not be strapped on me in the Baby Bjorn when I throw the pitch – we have to see how our “training” goes and Russ and Harper will be standing RIGHT BY us – on the field. Brodie and me - on the mound. In Progressive Field. Seriously. EEK!
Our WHOLE family will be there and we would love it so much if you spent the afternoon with us, Slider, BGVT and the TRIBE.
I CANNOT EVEN BELIEVE THIS! We are SO SO SO EXCITED!!!!!!!
DO NOT BUY TICKETS yet – wait for me to get you the BGVT SECTION DISCOUNTED LINK – we would LOVE it if you would sit with us – I will have it next week!
“Life will always throw you curveballs, just keep fouling them off, the right pitch will come, but when it does be prepared to run the bases.”
XO - TT
#brodiesgoodvibetribe #sliverofliver #TIGUEtough #thegoodstuff
Update: 03/15/2016
Best Big Sister Ever.
Harper is amazing.
Update: 03/14/2016 - Brodie turns 10 Months
Update: 03/14/16 – Brodie is the big 1-0 months today – hip hip hooray! Happy 10 months to the strongest, most cuddly, giggly, happy, resilient, amazing little love nugget warrior in the world! I cannot believe that he will be 1 in two months! EEEEEEKKKKKK!!!!!!!
He has 3 teeth (2 bottom and 1 top) and 3 more coming in (all on the top). He has figured out how to cruise by himself in his walker. He is not crawling. He is furniture surfing (with help) and trying to stand on his own. He is OBSESSED with his big sissy - she is his everything. He loves watching our pooch. He has recently started screeching like a pterodactyl when he does not get what he wants when he wants. His newest trick is smacking his lips together – A-PWUW A-PWUW A-PWUW… His Daddy is his favorite person right now – the way he looks at him would melt your heart. His personality is bigger than the state of Texas. He desperately wants to be on the go at all times. He wakes up smiling every morning – (he definitely did not get this from me). Being outside makes him become alive – he would sit out there all day. He hates baby food and only eats table food. He eats more than most two year olds – weighing in at 25 LBS. At 10 months he has lived a life that only story books and movies can tell and he has no idea. And he LOVES his new LIVER.
Today we spent celebrating this little mans 10 months at Cleveland Clinic Children's. Our morning started with the one and only Big John our favorite VEIN WHISPERER… he greeted us with a big smile and asked his favorite little man for a high five.
I updated him on the excitement we had last week and of course in a blink of an eye (and through some crying and screaming from your favorite little guy) we had a vial filled with the red stuff ready to go get processed. John found us a room so we could have some privacy – a quick diaper change, shot, medicine and we were ready to rock.
We cruised down to go see some of the best ladies in CC our favorite team down in Peds Ultrasounds (u/s). After checking in we took a seat and played for a little and as we waited I caught a glimpse of another warrior and her Mama - Maroon for Maisie – we exchanged hellos as they raced by to their appointment – (if you haven’t heard their fabulous news – SHE FOUND A MATCH and will be going through a Bone Marrow Transplant in the Fall – so amazing!!!!)
Our U/S tech came to greet us – a new face from the team Angie – took us back for the U/S adventure to begin… Brodie was in top spirits and brought his A-game but so did Angie – we played, cried, read, sang, drank (Brodie not us), danced and barreled our way through the hour long U/S…
Then we had a surprise visit Missy who is another tech on the team came to visit us – she had cared for Brodie when he was in the PICU taking most of his U/S - we have not seen her since before Christmas. After catching up and breaking down what has been happening we had to motor up to Vascular U/S.
This was a new area for us. We were checking to make sure there were no upper extremity clots. This includes neck, arms, shoulder areas – this was interesting as they typically do not get a ton of pediatric patients – Brodie’s patience had worn thin by this point.
He was screaming and crying – I was singing Adele and John Denver – and wasn’t sure if I should feel bad for the techs because they were listening to MY singing or Brodie’s crying! BUT – we made it through and the team was so kind and awesome.
As I was getting him dressed I shared our journey with them – how things have unfolded from September until now and as I unleashed the “Liver Tale of Brodie” - I found myself having such a profound appreciation for this 10 month mark that we have met.
Tichy our NP called us today to let us know that there were no new clots, all the labs came back good – no changes and our existing blood clot is same – no better and no worse. Hallelujah!!!!!!
Tonite reflecting on today’s events - I still find myself reeling in the miracle of the little life we created, sustained and celebrate and what a crazy ride it has been to get here. Right here, right now - I am so thankful for my little Warrior with his beautiful rainbow scar, his scary beautiful story to tell and cannot wait to see the light he spreads in the world…
XO - TT
#brodiesgoodvibetribe #sliverofliver #TIGUEtough #thegoodstuff
Update: 03/13/2016 - BGVT Gear
You asked for it... BGVT Gear is available!!! Our team at Ackmera has our gear ready for some spirited Brodie Good Vibe Tribers!!!
Many of you have requested to order so of course we want you to spread the BGVT vibes and love...
Hopefully you will be able to attend some of the amazing fun events we have coming up this year in your best BGVT get up! There will be an extra special one in April!!
Get those good vibes going grab it, swag it and rock it!!! #brodiesgoodvibetribe #sliverofliver #TIGUEtough #thegoodstuff
Update: 03/09/2016 - CT Scan - Blood Clot Update
03/09/16 - Just a quick update... Of course it wouldn't be our kind of day without some craziness... Brodie had a reaction to the contrast dye they were using during the CT Scan - so they had to administer some breathing treatments which he was responsive to - thank goodness! Which kept us under observation for longer than what we anticipated.
The clot itself has not gotten smaller and not gotten larger. There was an area that they will have to review further as the imaging was not clear (they will use a special computer for this).
Brodie has not been himself today he is irritable, crabby, gassy and just a sad little nugget. He should be back to himself tomorrow!
More to come on Monday we are back for two ultrasounds and labs for more insight into little Warrior.
Thank you for being with us today - we needed it!
XO - TT
Update: 03/09/2016
Update: 03/09/16 - Just handed my little guy off to the amazing Anesthesia Team here at Cleveland Clinic Children's…
We were greeted with smiles and encouragement – Brodie started off smiling and happy but soon realized that he was starving and his shrieks of “feed me now” started…
It never gets easier no matter how many time your little has been put fast asleep into dream world. It just never gets easier. The confidence that you develop when you have been in a medical partnership grows with each visit but the scary part of the medicine always dances the rumba in the back of your mind.
I am sitting here nursing my Starbucks caffeinated fuel aka java as I wait in the isolated hallway – there are baby and kiddo murmurs and cries of uncertainty as they are embarking on their journey this morning.
As I am sitting here - I went to go take a picture of me wearing my BGVT gear to say thank-you for all of the GOOD VIBING that we are receiving this morning. And of course. My arch nemesis in this technology life boldly glared back at me from my i-Phone screen – NO MEMORY. UGH. The worst.
To my 5,324 photos 132 Videos and too many Dubsmashes to admit - I went… to get rid of some of the “extras” (how could I possibly get rid of anything I am asking myself…) I just scrolled back to October - 5 months ago.
And as my nerves are in shambles as the clock tick tocks by with Brodie back there I am looking at all the pictures of you all who have lifted us up. Picture after picture of brave faces who surrounded us with love. Happy faces, fierce faces, silly faces, selfies, poochies, kitties, families, friends, every pose in the book – just BGVT LOVE.
It still takes my breath away.
My home town Brunswick, Ohio recently got rocked by a devastating fire. 28 families lost everything an apartment complex burnt to a crisp – a four-year old lost her little life way too soon and many still battling in the hospital.
What the community of Brunswick and those surrounding communities did in the past of 48 hours is just incredible.
Within 24 hours Saint Ambrose Parish Gym was packed to the gills with everything and anything you could imagine – blankets, clothing, games, toys, etc. to the point where they have asked to stop for the time being on donations and just focus on monetary and gift cards and volunteers to help sort the abundance of donations received. Incredible.
This just touched my soul to the core.
I believe there is nothing more moving than when a TRIBE comes together to rally people for a common cause of protecting those wounded, carrying those broken, and fiercely defending them from the harshness of their current reality and surrounding them with love, kindness and providing them with warmth and hope for the future in their greatest time of need.
Everything BGVT is about – you have done and continue to do for us.
How could we possibly ever thank you enough?
My little guy may never know how loved and supported he was and will be, he may never know how protected he was by a tribe that he may never meet, but both he and Harper will be taught the invaluable lesson of compassion and how to love and be kind. Which quite possibly is the most important thing in this life to know.
You all move me every day – your pictures live with me (as long as my i-Phone memory cooperates), your notes, messages, texts stay with me and reinforce encouragement and your ability to “just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming-swimming-swimming” with us through this adventure is simply just incredible.
As I sit here and wait... I can smile knowing My little guy is surrounded in good vibes by his tribe.
LIVER LOVE and GOOD VIBES
XO - TT
#brodiesgoodvibetribe #sliverofliver #tiguetough #thegoodstuff
Update: 03/08/2016 - Need Good JuJu
03/08/16 - BGVTers - Break out that BGVT GEAR and get that mojo-juju-prayer-good vibing mindset flowing tonight and tomorrow!
Brodie has a CT scan scheduled for tomorrow - He will be put to sleep to ensure he is completely still (Boo) and they will be analyzing the clot.
This is what we had done 2 weeks ago and gives us a much clearer picture of what the clot looks like - on the ultrasound yesterday it "looked" the same. We are hoping for a smaller sized clot.
Thank you for a thought, good intention, prayer, juju, sugar loving sweet molasses tough strong thoughts for our little warrior to get through our LONG morning tomorrow and that clot to show some resolve!
Update: 03/07/2016 - 20 Weeks Post Transplant!!!
Update: 03/07/16 - What were you doing 20 weeks ago?
We were starting our New Liver Life and going through our transplant! Unbelievable that our little Warrior is 20 WEEKS POST TRANSPLANT! Hooray little Brodie Hooray! Cannot even believe so much time has flown by.
What do you do to celebrate such a big day? We had a big day at the Clinic – (update to come tomorrow) and enjoyed the nice weather outside!
So many of you have sent me this amazing quote and I think it has been perfect but especially is perfect right now….
“An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward. When life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means it’s going to launch you into something great. So just focus, and keep aiming.”
Maybe as we have been dragged down with this life challenge there was many layers to the hand we were dealt...
Could this be to help others remember the power of kindness? Generosity? To help people through their own challenges? To put together a tribe that can move a mountain by love and good vibes? To understand the power of positivity and prayer? To have gratitude for this thing called life?
How can I describe everything that has revealed itself to us and BGVT over the past months since we have been in this together!?!?
A couple weeks ago we had the most amazing opportunity to do an interview with Karen Hale at My Impossible Dream – we talked about all of this….
Take a listen: https://soundcloud.com/myimpossibledream/brodis-story
PLEASE continue to send those VIBES to our little warrior Brodie for that BLOOD CLOT to RECANNULATE (the fancy new term I learned which basically means resolve itself :))
Make today count. Make kind choices. Pay it forward. Fly high when you are launched forward.
XO – TT
#brodiesgoodvibetribe #sliverofliver #tiguetough #thegoodstuff
Update: 03/06/2016 - Happy One Week New Liver Birthday Luke
Happy One Week New Liver Birthday Luke's Legendary Liver League Go Baby Luke Go! Brodie's Good Vibe Tribe says you GOT THIS!#20weeksposttransplanttomorrow #sliverofliver #littleboysaretough
