Brandon Edward McGahan was born two months early on 4/9/07 (Born on opening day!  Go Sox!).  Unfortunately, during my pregnancy, we were not aware of any complications/birth defects or that after birth our child was having complications until the second day of his life.  On 4/10/07, Brandon was seen by Dr. Russell Jenning's of Children's Hospital Boston and diagnosed with Tracheoesophageal Fistula and Esophageal Artesia, as well as severe Tracheomalacia. TEF/EA is a rare birth defect that effects 1 in 3,000-5,000 infants born in the US and can cause other birth defects to form in that infant that effect his/her very life.  On 4/10/07, Brandon was transported from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Boston to Children's Hospital Boston and had surgery the second day of his life to try to correct this birth defect.  Since then, Brandon has had several surgeries, blood transfusions, and has endured several “death spells” associated with his condition.  TEF/EA also causes severe reflux in infants and can cause stricture within the esophagus.  Brandon will have to be on medications to sustain the reflux; however will need to be monitored to ensure he is not aspirating from his reflux.  Brandon will also have to have continuous testing done to ensure that strictures do not form in his esophagus.  Once these strictures form, they can cause choking spells.  Brandon may also need to undergo further surgery should he aspirate from his reflux, as well as preventative surgery to ensure he does not develop cancerous lesions in his esophagus due to the severe reflux. 

Brandon spent the first four months of his life at Children's Hospital Boston and the next two years of his life in and out.  Brandon is approaching three and at this point is doing well thanks to all the efforts of the doctors and nurses at Children's Hospital Boston.