Featured Patient of the week is CDH angel Payton Brenner. Payton is the daughter of Jonathan and Mary Kate Brenner, both volunteers here at CDH International.
Payton was born at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO. She was diagnosed at 17 weeks with LCDH. She was born on July 18, 2018 via repeat c-section. Upon birth, the family found out she also had a VSD heart defect that was not diagnosed in utero. Within 24 hours she was placed on ECMO, and 24 hours later she had her repair surgery. She was on a roller coaster ECMO ride for 25 days. After a long talk between her doctors, they decided that it was time for her to come off because the risks were outweighing the benefits of being on ECMO. She fought hard for another 3 days until her pulmonary hypertension was just too much for her body to handle. Payton gained her wings on August 16, 2018 surrounded by her family.
Mary Kate dedicates her free time to help raise awareness as our Awareness Team Leader and raising funding for CDH in Payton’s memory. Payton touched so many lives in her short 29 days on earth and she wants her life to make a big impact in the world.
Mary Kate Brenner shared the heart-wrenching story of her daughter, Payton, on our annual telethon on April 30, 2020. She also shares updates on our Awareness Team for 2020 in her telethon appearance.
