Things got a bit difficult in March for Brett Copeland.
The 15-year-old Blue Springs resident noticed that he was getting tired more often. After school at Blue Springs High School, he’d come home, sleep, wake up long enough to eat dinner and go back to sleep, only to start the whole routine over.
“It was getting pretty tough for him, very severe,” his mother, Elizabeth, said, stopping to welcome another friend of the family as they crowded into St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Independence on Saturday night. “He’s had to give up a lot of the things he loves to do – baseball, for one.”
The event was a benefit dinner for Brett, who is preparing for his third heart surgery on Nov. 19 at a St. Louis hospital. Surgeons there plan to replace two heart valves, an uncommon procedure, his mother says.
“They don’t typically replace two valves at the same time,” she said, adding that his heart currently functions at only about 40 to 50 percent. His first surgery, to repair a hole in his heart located between the two chambers, was successful at 10 months old. As a young child, he was active and as normal as any child. He played baseball – on diamonds and in backyards.
Then in May of this year, Brett went to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City to have to dual heart valve replacement. Unsuccessful, the hospital recommend another in St. Louis. Since then, it’s been a routine trip.
“I’ve used all my vacation time, with all the meetings and things,” Elizabeth said. “And when we go, we have to stay in hotels. There’s a gas expense, too. It’s all tough on the family.”
She said she hopes the benefit will assist with some of the expense associated with the surgery, as well as the costs going back and forth. Following the surgery, there will be followups. In addition, she said her son will have to have the same surgery again every 10 years.
In good spirits Saturday night, Brett said he thought the dinner was a “cool” idea. One of his brothers, Brenden, followed him through the crowd (he has another brother, Jacob). He shook hands, hugged family and friends, introduced people, met new ones. He said he’s looking forward to getting the surgery over with.
“It’s been tough lately,” he said. “And it’s been really nice seeing the people here. I know most of them.”
Tom Powell, Brett’s uncle, said Brett and his family have been through tough times. He said Saturday night he’s hoping the income from the taco dinners will help offset some of the difficult costs.
“Brett’s a great kid,” he said. “Very active. It’s a shame because this kind of thing runs in the family. We all just hope we can help a little.”
Those who would like more information about how to help can call Tom and Lydia Powell at 679-6221.
