Baby Who Was Saved by Kansas State Trooper at 18 Days Old Undergoes Successful Heart Surgery a Week Later
Baby Brexley stopped breathing when her family was on the way to church on May 12
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Baby BrexleyA newborn baby who suddenly stopped breathing and was saved by a quick-acting Kansas state trooper is now recovering after a successful heart surgery.
When 18-day-old Brexley experienced the medical emergency on May 12, his parents, Gracie Gray and Kahl Huffman — who were on their way to church in Greensburg at the time — called 911 for assistance. Highway Patrol Master Trooper Evan Jacks told Fox Kansas News that when he heard the call come across his radio about a baby in distress nearby, it was familiar because he had recently witnessed paramedics help his own young child start breathing again.
He was able to apply that knowledge to aid Brexley.
"I just rubbed her back vigorously and patted her on the back a few times to get her to start crying. I had a previous experience with my child nine months ago," Jacks explained to the local news outlet.
According to ABC affiliate KAKE, Brexley was taken to the hospital and later diagnosed with Shone's Syndrome (also known as Shone's Complex).
The rare condition is present at birth and characterized by the presence of at least three heart defects that affect blood flow to the left side of the heart, per the Cleveland Clinic.
To repair her heart defects, Brexley underwent successful open heart surgery on Thursday, May 30, at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Kan., KAKE reported.
"I work in the medical field, but even whenever it's your own child, it's different," Gray told KAKE. "But it was a huge relief when Evan was that close as he was," the mother added of the state trooper's swift response to the emergency.
"We're just so thankful we've gotten to this point. She's on the road to recovery," Huffman said of his daughter's surgery. He shared that Brexley's medical team was planning to remove her breathing tube on Thursday night.
"We'll see how everything goes from there. She's doing good," he added.
The family said Master Trooper Jacks will always be in their hearts. "I mean, without him, it's hard to tell what would have happened, and so he's a heck of a guy," Huffman told KAKE.
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Brexley's aunt set up a GoFundMe page to help the young family with Brexley's ongoing medical expenses.
"This is going to be an extensive stay with travel and food and supplies being needed. Momma is still on maternity leave and Daddy is going to be off work now to be with them," the GoFundMe page states.
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