COTTONWOOD – BIRMINGHAM: On Wednesday Brantley Bradley, his mother Emily Fails and myself ( Rickey Stokes ) will travel to Birmingham for pre-op at 3 PM at Children’s Hospital.
Brantley, age 12, will have surgery at Children’s Hospital on Thursday for his shunt. In what was a routine follow up recently, the surgeon at Children’s Hospital said the shunt was not draining as it should. And he said surgery would be required in order to repair the shunt. This was a shock to all of us, especially Brantley.
After we left Brantley said he had prayed that he would never have to undergo the surgeries again. This surgery will not be as bad as the 2020 surgery where he was in the hospital for 11 days. He has hydrocephalus. Diagnosed by Dr. Fred Pich in 2020 who saved Brantley’s life. Dr. Pich ordered him flown to Birmingham. Survival Flight arrived at Southeast Health. Pilcher Ambulance transported him to the helicopter pad and he was flown to Birmingham.
Brantley was in excellent care. Dr. Pich was in our wedding ( Rickey and Marsha ) and was on duty in the emergency room and made the diagnosis and immediate flight to Birmingham. On Survival Flight was Mark Reynold who care for Brantley. Mark was best man in our wedding ( Rickey and Marsha ). So we knew he was in great care between Fred Pich and Mark Reynolds.
This was during COVID so only his mom, Emily Fails and his dad, Mike Bradley, were allowed in the hospital. But his step dad, Joshua Fails, his mom Kay Fails, his sister and brother in law Jason and Stephanie McCorkle and Stratton were there for the 11 days in the motel two blocks away.
The shunt has slowed Brantley down some. He can not do contact sports. His Uncle Spencer has him in golf and Ryan Benton is the golf pro teaching him the right way at golf. His dad, Mike Bradley, step dad Josh Fails, along with Seth Goree and Will Benny are teaching him to bass fish.
After the doctor told him of surgery Brantley missed school because he was throwing up. It was his nerves. Today we went to Ashford where John cut his hair and shaved the back of his head in preparation for the surgery.
Brantley is in the 6th grade at Cottonwood School. They have been WONDERFUL to him. He was initially raised at Memphis Baptist Church where he grew up loving Jim Tate, Pastor. He is now at Watermark Church in Ashford where he loves Chris in the youth, who baptized him and Senior Pastor Todd Thorpe.
This morning ( Wednesday ) Brantley’s Uncle Spencer carried him to play 9 holes at the Highland’s before we left for Birmingham. Brantley wanted to play one last time before his surgery. So Uncle Spencer to the rescue!!!
Brantley is the son of Emily and Josh Fails, dad is Mike Bradley. His grandparents are Rickey and Marsha Stokes, Kay and Chip Fails, and Emily King ( John ). His uncles are John Stokes and Spencer Stokes and Mike Bradley’s family.
Please lift Brantley and the surgeons up as they perform the surgery. Please pray for no pain for Brantley and fast healing.
