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Melissa Walker and Brian Halstead would like to announce the birth of their special angel, Brayden Jeffrey born September
10,2004 at 11:38pm in Boone Memorial Hospital. Brayden is the Grandson of Gary and Drema Walker, Bill and Jean Sanders, and
Johnny and Penny Halstead. Great-Grandparents are Brooke Halstead, Eva Chafin, Thomas and Georgeann Dickens, and Corky and
Margaret Clay. Very special “Maa and Puppa” are Janet and Gary Price. Baby Brayden has a very large, loving extended
family with many amazing Aunts, Uncles, Great Aunts, Great Uncles, and cousins.
Brayden also has a truly special extended
family that we owe great thanks to at Boone Memorial Hospital, Women and Children’s Hospital, and Children’s Hospital
Of Pittsburgh.
Brayden was Baptized in the name of the Father, and on the Son, and of the Holy Spirit on the 11th day
of September by Chaplin Margo Friend.
Our beautiful baby boy stayed long enough to touch the hearts of so many amazing
people before he passed on September 12, 2004 at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Brayden was such a strong, brave,
beautiful little boy and he lived his very brief but very special life filled with an abundance of love, compassion and care.
We are so proud of our angel and find comfort in knowing that he is home, with our Lord, resting in peace.
Grave side
services were held on September 14, 2004 at Memory Gardens, Madison, West Virginia, with Bill Cook officiating.
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I
would like to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart. Everyone has been so overwhelmingly caring, kind, loving and compassionate
to me, my baby and my entire family. I can not find the words to express how incredibly thankful I am that each and every
one of you were a part of this with me. Everyone is absolutely amazing. I have met so many wonderful people throughout this
experience, and I am thankful for everything that each and everyone of you did for us. It means more to me than I could ever
begin to express. I know that every moment, everyone always did everything they possibly could to make sure that baby Brayden
was taken care of. Thank you so much for loving and looking out for my baby boy at times when I couldn’t be there with
him. I feel a calm in my heart because I know and I trust that he was never alone and he always had someone with him who genuinely
loved him. That means more to me than you can imagine. His time here on earth with us was brief, but he was shown so much
love from every single person he met, I couldn’t ask for anything better for my baby.
As a mother, I have come to
understand so much about life and love. The love a mother has for her child is forever, and it’s stronger than any other
kind of love. The love I have for this baby is stronger and more real than anything in this world. It’s something that
no one will ever be able to take away from me. A mother never wants to see her child hurting, for any reason. I now understand
that. For me to know that my child was never hurt by anyone, and to know that he received unconditional love and compassion
for the short time that he was able to be with us, really gives me an amazing feeling in my heart. I will forever cherish
those feelings.
I gave birth to the most beautiful angel that I have ever laid eyes on. I could not be more proud of my
little boy. He is so prefect in every way. My baby boy was always strong for me, and I know that he will always be strong
for me.
Brayden’s Uncle Jeff has been with him, and with me through the past nine months and especially through
the past few days. I feel like I was never alone, and I didn’t have to do this alone. I had angels helping and watching
over me. Everything happens for a reason, and it was Brayden’s time to go home. He is safe and resting in peace now.
My angel is in heaven and his Uncle Jeff is right there with him taking the best of care of him. I realize that I haven’t
experienced a loss here, but merely a separation, and someday in God’s time I will get the chance to be baby Brayden’s
Mommy, and we will be together. Thank you and God bless everyone.
-Melissa
A few of my special angels:
Margo Friend, CAMC Chaplin
Reverend Keeling
All of the nurses at Women and Childrens NICU unit, especially
Dr. Connover, Dr. Lowry, Amanda, Kim and Megan.
All of the 2nd and 3rd floor at Women and Children’s Hospital, especially
Aleisha, Debbie, Kathy, Linda and Roberta.
Dr. Drake
Dr. Mike
Anna Albuquerque
Baby Brayden’s Honorary
God Parents, Kevin and Kathy Hill from Boone Memorial Hospital
All of the staff and nurses at Boone Memorial Hospital
Boone County EMT’s and Police
The Pittsburgh Helicopter Unit
The entire Pittsburgh Team, especially Dr.
Hart, Dr. Shaker, and Nurse Jackie.
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Baby Brayden was born with a heart condition that in no way could have been prevented or detected prior to his birth.
When a baby is in the womb, there are vessils in his heart that allow him to breathe through his Mommy. When the baby
is born, those vessils close off and new ones open. These new ones allow blood from his heart to go to his lungs to pick up
oxygen. Baby Brayden's heart simply did not want to make the transition. Everything possible was done to try and help Brayden.
No one is at fault for his death.
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