Avery Henderson has faced plenty of adversity since entering the world April 1. Born with congenital Holt-Oram Syndrome, he has holes in his heart that will require surgery for him to live.
His aunt, Lindsey Disselbrett, who serves as his family’s spokesperson, said he developed bronchitis and pneumonia at around 2 months old. Nichole Maahs, Avery’s mother and Disselbrett’s sister, just returned from maternity leave to her Umatilla County job when he got sick.
Disselbrett said when doctors sent Avery home June 8, his heart stopped in the car, which required a Life Flight helicopter transport to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland. After medical personnel revived him, he endured seizures and a stroke.
“We’re just trying to get him to a place where he will survive the surgery that he will ultimately need to continue to live,” she said. “He can’t live without the surgery.”
The surgeon wanted him to be at least 6 months old before undergoing heart surgery, she added, but the bronchitis and pneumonia worsened the organ’s condition. He also developed inflammation of the bowels, which caused another delay.
“We got that kind of handled, and then he developed an infection in his bloodstream, and that’s what we are fighting right now,” Disselbrett explained. “That has to be cleared before he can have surgery because of the risk of infection. The risk of infection with surgery is enough all by itself without an active infection to start with.”
She said doctors are testing daily for the bloodstream infection. “As soon as we get a negative on (that), he will have surgery,” Disselbrett said.
As of July 20, Avery had been at Doernbecher for 35 days.
“Once he has surgery, then he’ll spend quite a bit of time recovering, also,” Disselbrett said.
However, the one constant in Avery’s life is Maahs by his side. Disselbrett said her sister’s co-workers have donated leave to allow her to stay with him, but it hasn’t been easy.
Disselbrett said Maahs can’t be around her other children, Draven, 9, and Veda, 2, because she can’t risk catching something from them and giving it to Avery.
It also hasn’t been easy on Avery’s father, Jon Henderson. Disselbrett said he works during the week and then drives approximately 180 miles one way from Hermiston to spend weekends at the hospital.
“For Jon, it’s really hard to not be with my sister and the baby, but he’s trying to do his best to provide for everybody,” she said.
She added that others have pitched in to help.
“It’s been really rough trying to make sure that they’re getting their rent paid and the other kids are being cared for,” she said.
According to Disselbrett, her sister has medical insurance, but with the emergency responses, hospital bills and driving back and forth to the hospital, bills are accumulating.
A GoFundMe account has been established at www.gofundme.com/f/baby-avery-and-his-family. Disselbrett also said bracelets are being sold at Pizza Hut, Fresh Image Salon, Hermiston Drug and Zila’s Salon, all in Hermiston, to help offset medical expenses.
“We also have just been really thankful,” she said. “We’ve had a great outpouring of support from the community and it’s been really, really great, honestly.”
