Kinnick

2019 EMBRACING BRAVE Denver Spring Recipient

Kinnick Brandt was born on February 24, 2015, at 37 weeks. Unfortunately, his delivery was complicated. Because of these complications, it was necessary to admit him into Children’s Hospital at three days old. It was then that he underwent a series of surgeries to remove nearly all of his bowel and install a central line to supply the nutrition necessary to sustain his life. 

Kinnick was in the NICU at Children’s Hospital for the first 8 months of his life. During that time, he had dozens of surgeries for line repair and infections that caused him to remain under 24-hour skilled supervision. It was at three months of age that his biological family stopped visiting and he was placed into the foster care system. Due to the complexity involved with Kinnick’s TPN and his low life expectancy, finding a foster care family was difficult.  

It was at 8 months of age that our family met Kinnick. We still remember walking nervously into his hospital room while he was taking a nap with his blanket over his head. When he woke, he popped his head out….red hair and blue eyes! He fit right in with his new family. Kinnick came home with us in October of 2015! 

Over the past four years, there has been many health struggles and victories. While still on the TPN, we had several line breaks, occlusions and infections that required many emergency room visits in the middle of the night, which were usually followed by surgeries and countless nights spent in the hospital. Right before Kinnick’s third birthday, he was going into liver failure. We had to make a week-long trip to Omaha, NE to discuss with a team of specialists what a liver and bowel transplant would look like. It was after an intense week of tests, counseling, meetings and careful deliberation that we all felt that an aggressive intestinal rehabilitation might get us to where we need to be. Kinnick was a champ and pushed through the rehabilitation with many trials, errors, and adjustments. Today, Kinnick is TPN free, through that therapy and ongoing monitoring, and has moved beyond the liver failure he was going into! 

On December 14, 2017, Kinnick Lee Anthony Brandt officially became a permanent member in our family. He has taught so many people what patience and unconditional love looks like. Kinnick is such a sweet and loving boy who always has a smile on his face and hug to give to anybody! He is a ball of energy who continuously keeps his family, nurses, and therapists  on their toes. Today, Kinnick still receives many therapies including OT, PT, SLP, massage, and behavioral. He has been diagnosed with autism and receives an IEP through his local preschool (which he loves!) Kinnick still has to be seen by specialty physicians multiple times throughout the year and receives 24-hour skilled nursing and CNA care in his home. 

We give God all the glory for seeing Kinnick safely through the first 4 years of his life and for putting so many gifted and loving people in his life who have helped him make the progress that he’s seen.  -2019