The 4-Year Anniversary of Preston's Lifesaving Surgery

“God gives His toughest battles to His strongest soldiers.” That’s what they told me as I held my brother’s hand in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, LA. A inoperable Grade 5 brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM), two aneurysms, and a cyst so large it had pushed his brain off-center. That was his diagnosis.

May 16, 2018, the day that time stood still for myself and my family. 10-hours under the knife, the entire right frontal lobe of my little brother Preston’s brain was removed. It was a miracle in and of itself that we were here as his initial diagnosis was declared inoperable. Going into this surgery, Preston’s neurosurgeon, Dr. Valle, continually stressed to Preston and our family the high risks, one being fatality. Specifically, the significant threat that would contribute to the loss of life was blood loss.

It is as clear for me today as the day we sat in the office and the discussed the risks. Every surgery has its risks and no matter the "simplicity" of some I have come to learn to never underestimate them. This, however, was not a simple surgery. We were told to expect anywhere from 15 hours or more in the operating room. One risk of significant concern was blood loss.

The risk of blood loss was frequently voiced by Dr. Valle and one I would not soon forget. Late in the evening of May 16, 2018 I happened to turn around to look where I had watched surgeons come and go that day. Coming to speak with the loved ones of patients after a surgery. I watched moments of joy and moments of complete heartache that day. I was utterly terrified that when Preston's surgeon ultimately came it would be the latter and not the former. This time, though, there was Dr. Valle, walking briskly in our direction. I was yearning to know if I still had a brother and did my best to read his face but his expression offered nothing. We soon learned that Preston had received multiple units of blood and made it through. The coming hours and days were highly critical.

The lifesaving blood generously donated by donors is a significant reason why I still have a brother. This is why I created #PrestonStrong. So as this date came around for the 4-year anniversary I worked with my my partner, Mississippi Blood Services, to reach my goal of having 400 donors from May 16 – May 20, 2022. I am so ecstatic to share that we surpassed this goal with 695 donors!

The Give 1 Save 3 mission means that 1 unit donated can save up to 3 lives, that’s approximately 2,085 lives in the span of 5 days! I couldn’t think of anything better to pay it forward on the day my brother so desperately needed it than to help Mississippi patients across the state. THANK YOU to all who donated!

What’s even better? While saving lives by being a blood donor this week you could also win big! Everyone who donated at all locations and blood drives have been automatically registered in the Do Good Things This Summer $1,000 VISA Gift Card drawing!