BrynLee Nichole Hutchison was born with a rare condition called Bladder Exstrophy, a congenital defect in which the abdominal wall fails to close, leaving the bladder exposed outside the body.
BrynLee is the daughter of Jocko and Chelsey Hutchison of Malta, ID, granddaughter to Delbert and JoDene Hutchison also of Malta, ID and Russ and Karla Taylor of Burley, ID and great granddaughter to Charlie Shaffer and Lenny and Donna Jones, also of Burley, ID.
Her condition is rare, occurring once every 50,000 live births with a 2:1 male:female ratio.
The diagnosis involves a spectrum of anomalies of the lower abdominal wall, bladder, anterior bony pelvis, and external genitalia. It occurs due to failure of the abdominal wall to close during fetal development and results in protrusion of the posterior bladder through the lower abdominal wall.
BrynLee had her first surgery at 2 days old and has several more surgeries ahead of her to complete the repair.
The cause of Bladder Exstrophy is unknown. The problem occurs 4 to 8 weeks after a woman gets pregnant. This is when organs, muscles and tissues begin to form layers that separate, divide and fold. Exstrophy is not caused by something the mother did or did not do while she was pregnant and it is not hereditary.
BrynLee is currently being treated by a wonderful team of doctors at Primary Children’s Medical Center in SLC, UT where she has received excellent care. There is a more experienced Bladder Exstrophy surgeon in Boston, Mass named Dr. Joseph Borer. Our goal is to help Jocko and Chelsey get BrynLee to Boston in the next 6 months!
There will be a benefit dinner and auction held on November 7, 2011, at 6 p.m. at the Raft River High School Gymnasium. All are welcome to attend and no reservations are necessary!
An account has been set up at D.L. Evans bank for those that are unable to attend the dinner. Please refer to the “BrynLee Hutchison Benefit Account.”
Please visit BrynLee’s website, www.brynlee2boston.com where you can learn more about sweet little BrynLee and her condition. There is also a donation button on the website that accepts all major credit/debit cards.
For those interested in donating an item for the auction please contact BettyAnn Higley at 208-645-2444. For more general information please contact Tami Hutchison at 208-645-2372.
