It Was One Year Ago Today - Brantley Flown To Birmingham - Dr. Fred Pich and Mark Reynolds

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
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334-790-1729
Date: May 09 2021 9:39 PM

Today was one year ago our daughter Emily called me that Brantley’s legs turned to spaghetti.

When I arrived in Chapelwood they were on the couch. Brantley had been complaining of his neck and head hurting and it was thought to be a pulled muscle.

Having been to the doctors and medical professionals had looked at him I began to text Dr. Fred Pich, Southeast Health Chief Emergency Medical Director.

Before becoming a doctor Fred and I were friends. He and Mark Reynolds were in our wedding.

After a few text messages Dr. Pich said get him to the hospital, now.

When we arrived and I took Brantley out of the vehicle he began to throw up. A man was coming out of the Emergency Room ran back in to get a barf bag. Then Dr. Pich came running out, took Brantley and said that I could not come in because of COVID.

In about 15 minutes Dr. Pich called and said that Brantley needed to go to Children’s Hospital in Birmingham. My response, treat him like your’s and whatever you say.

In about 10 minutes Dr. Pich called and said Survival Flight has launched meet them at the helicopter pad. Also Mark Reynolds is the Flight Medic.

While in a whirlwind it was peace to know that Fred Pich, now Dr. Pich and Mark Reynolds, now retired Dothan Fire Captain and now Flight Medic, had our grandson under their care.

We saw Brantley as he was loaded from Pilcher Ambulance ( thank you Joey ) into Survival Flight and they took off.

Traveling with me, Brantley’s dad Mike, his step dad Josh, and his uncle Jason.

We arrived in Birmingham. Could not go into the hospital because of COVID. In fact security words were “under the orders of Alabama Governor Kay Ivey” we could not go in.

Emily’s mother in law Kay Fails, sister in law Stephanie McCorkle and nephew Stratton were not far behind us.

The next picture I saw of Brantley he was on a respirator. Folks, that one knocked my feet out from under me.

Brantley had major surgery where they went into his head. While I do not know the medical terms the release of spine fluid from his brain was clogged. They operated and put a permanent shunt in.

For three days I laid in a motel room in Birmingham. COVID was at a peak. Never turned the TV on. I honestly thought when his dad went to take a shower I could go see him. Same remark “per Alabama Governor Kay Ivey ...”. It took me 10 minutes and I had Governor Kay Ivey’s personal cell and her on the phone.

Was not asking for special permission but I misunderstood the order. A great conversation and she text and checked on Brantley the next day. Now she was surprised when I was on the other end of the Phone!!!

Today while eating Mother’s Day lunch Emily said it was one year ago today. Brantley just finished baseball. He can not play contact sports but he is healthy and Paw Paw’s boy.

Give praises that Brantley has a super terrific mom and stepdad, dad and step mom. Great family support.

Give praises to Kay and Chip Fails and Jason and Stephanie McCorkle. Kay, Stephanie and Stratton remained in Birmingham the entire time.

Folks, I can not say enough positive about Dr. Fred Pich. Never knew in our single days where life would lead and that he would be the one who saved Brantley. We were told that Brantley would not have survived the night.

And to Mark Reynolds. He was best man in our wedding. I can nit give enough positive to Mark and Emmie for their friendship and Mark and Survival Flight crew for taking care of Brantley.

THANKS BE TO GOD for his placing HIS DIVINE HANDS on people like Dr. Fred Pich and Mark Reynolds and what they do to save lives.

THANKS BE TO GOD for saving Brantley. And thanks to everyone who prayed, prayed and prayed for this child as we are on a journey.