'Inspirational' Altoona teen succumbs to heart disease
Source: DesMoines Register
A vibrant, dynamic Altoona teenager fighting for his life lost that battle last week, leaving behind teary-eyed friends and family who were rooting for him to receive a second heart transplant in time.Bryce Draisey, 13, died May 3 at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City while waiting for that second heart transplant. His parents, Derek and Michelle, and sister, Brooklyn, along with countless family and friends, stood behind him in this latest ordeal.
On Mother’s Day, Michelle Draisey reflected on her son and who he was as a person, and how she’ll treasure her memories of him forever, each and every day that he’s gone.
“There is so much to say about Bryce. I could write a book about him, seriously. He was one of a kind, literally,” she said. “I’ve never known anyone like him before. He was honest. He knew who he was and liked who he was, but at the same time, wanted to grow and be a better Bryce. He was mostly quiet in social situations, not knowing what to say to people. However, if he did have something to say, he said it. He didn’t care what people would think. He was honest and most people appreciated that. He was kind. Being as honest and forthright as he was, if he thought his words would hurt someone’s feelings, he kept them to himself, unless of course he felt like causing his sister some stress.
“He was a loyal friend. At his visitation, I was told by a substitute teacher from elementary school that she remembered Bryce sticking up for a classmate that was being bullied by another student. That’s who he was. He told his family he loved them several times a day and loved hugs. One day in the past couple of weeks, Bryce was struggling to breathe,” she continued. “He was breathing 70 to 80 breaths per minute all day long, even with a BiPAP mask on. He hadn’t said much all day, since it took a lot of energy and he had to speak loudly through the plastic mask that covered his entire face. I was sitting by his bed and out of the blue he said, 'I love you mom.’ I will treasure that moment for the rest of my life.” Michelle continued, describing him as others knew him to be — a perfectionist, music lover and a very brave young man.
“Bryce was funny, sometimes even when he wasn’t trying to be. He was also a perfectionist in many ways and didn’t mind correcting people when he thought they’d made a mistake--especially in grammar or music. The music therapist was playing a favorite Weird Al song for him on that same day when he was struggling so much to breathe. Again, he’d been quiet all day, but when she changed the arrangement of the song ever so slightly, he spoke up to let her know she was playing it wrong, again,” Draisey said. “Kirsten, the music therapist, as well as my husband and I, were so happy to hear him say that, because it was the Bryce we knew. It made us smile and laugh.
Glenn Dietzenbach, principal at Southeast Polk Junior High where Draisey was an eighth-grader, said it’s “hard to put into words this huge loss. “This affects a lot of people who developed a relationship not just with Bryce, but with his entire family. Students are amazingly resilient and all considering, they are doing well by celebrating the positives — they are thankful they had the opportunity to get to know Bryce better and befriend him,” Dietzenbach said. “They view him as a great inspiration. They value his courage shown and our hearts and prayers go out to the entire family and our students who are suffering this loss.”
Family friend Angie Ault agreed that Bryce was an inspiration. “He was so brave and a true fighter. Bryce was so blessed to have such wonderful parents and a loving sister who were by his side at all times. My son Scott has had the honor to go to school with Bryce since kindergarten. He was a very funny kid and always had everyone laughing. Scott would read the Carepage entries about Bryce doing magic shows and cooking for people when he was in the hospital in Iowa City and would say, 'That’s Bryce — always the entertainer,’ ” Ault said. “We will all miss him very much. He made a true difference in his short life here inspiring many of his friends and their families to become organ donors.”
Bryce became internationally known with his YouTube video where he asks for a donor heart and is shown strumming his guitar and playing video games, two of his favorite activities. As of May 10, it has received almost 6,000 hits; Bryce’s goal was to have 10,000 people watch his video to help bring awareness to the cause for organ donation. While he did not make it to receive that second heart, his loved ones hope that his memory continues to inspire other to become organ donors and that everyone will watch his video and help make a last wish come true.
It would’ve been two years ago this July 16 that Bryce received his first heart transplant. He was placed on the organ transplant list after being diagnosed with an enlarged heart and a blood clot inside the heart’s left ventricle. This heart condition meant that blood could hardly reach his extremities. The family originally thought he had come down with the flu. On Feb. 20, he had open-heart surgery to insert a device that would pump his heart for him until he could receive the first heart transplant, which occurred on July 16.
“Bryce’s illness over the past two years took over his life and he will always be remembered for the bravery with which he faced the illness and the positive attitude he maintained throughout. However, he should also be remembered for his honesty, his smile, his infectious laugh, his silly jokes and faces, and his loyalty,” she added.
Glenn Dietzenbach, principal at Southeast Polk Junior High where Draisey was an eighth-grader, said it’s “hard to put into words this huge loss. “This affects a lot of people who developed a relationship not just with Bryce, but with his entire family. Students are amazingly resilient and all considering, they are doing well by celebrating the positives — they are thankful they had the opportunity to get to know Bryce better and befriend him,” Dietzenbach said. “They view him as a great inspiration. They value his courage shown and our hearts and prayers go out to the entire family and our students who are suffering this loss.”
Family friend Angie Ault agreed that Bryce was an inspiration. “He was so brave and a true fighter. Bryce was so blessed to have such wonderful parents and a loving sister who were by his side at all times. My son Scott has had the honor to go to school with Bryce since kindergarten. He was a very funny kid and always had everyone laughing. Scott would read the Carepage entries about Bryce doing magic shows and cooking for people when he was in the hospital in Iowa City and would say, 'That’s Bryce — always the entertainer,’ ” Ault said. “We will all miss him very much. He made a true difference in his short life here inspiring many of his friends and their families to become organ donors.”
Bryce became internationally known with his YouTube video where he asks for a donor heart and is shown strumming his guitar and playing video games, two of his favorite activities. As of May 10, it has received almost 6,000 hits; Bryce’s goal was to have 10,000 people watch his video to help bring awareness to the cause for organ donation. While he did not make it to receive that second heart, his loved ones hope that his memory continues to inspire other to become organ donors and that everyone will watch his video and help make a last wish come true.
It would’ve been two years ago this July 16 that Bryce received his first heart transplant. He was placed on the organ transplant list after being diagnosed with an enlarged heart and a blood clot inside the heart’s left ventricle. This heart condition meant that blood could hardly reach his extremities. The family originally thought he had come down with the flu. On Feb. 20, he had open-heart surgery to insert a device that would pump his heart for him until he could receive the first heart transplant, which occurred on July 16.
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