When Braden West was born, doctors told his parents that he would not survive.
The little boy had all odds against him – but his life-threatening condition would lead to one miracle after another. Today, Braden is 22 and celebrates his life by becoming a firefighter.
Braden West was born with the rare craniofacial condition, Pfeiffer syndrome Type 2, which causes malformations of the skull and an underdeveloped brain. His mom Cheri understood something was wrong and was told about her son’s condition two weeks before he was born.
“I mean, he’s kicking in my belly and I’m praying for God to take him home,” Cheri told News Nation Now in 2020, adding:
t looked like he was not going to have the back of his head. It looked like he was going to be born with teeth. It looked like it was a bad situation.”
To watch him become this amazing young man has been emotional, but yet I’m so proud,” mom Cheri told The Epoch Times.
“When I was watching him walk the line, every emotion of the first few months of his life came flooding back. All I could think about was, he isn’t supposed to be doing this, he wasn’t supposed to even be able to hold a pencil, speak, see, hear … and here we are.”
To celebrate such an amazing milestone in Braden’s life his parents organized for him to be flown into the middle of a live concert which featured one of his favorite musicians, country singer Cam Thomspon, via helicopter.
Braden described his graduation day as “perfect”.
17 years ago I was this boy’s Hospice Nurse, and today, I just finished editing his senior pictures!! What a blessing…
Posted by Linn Michele Pete on Saturday, September 5, 2020
“I feel pretty good knowing I worked so hard to get to this day because it wasn’t always easy,” he added.
Braden, who walked with a walker until he was five years old and learned to walk on his own with lots of therapy, is now a member of the civil air patrol unit in Owensboro, Kentucky.
He always dreamed big and now, he’s living out his lifelong dream of becoming a firefighter, joining the Moseleyville fire dept as a volunteer fireman.
His mom Cheri says her son’s achievements serve as a special reminder to those with all the odds stacked against them.
It’s official!!!
Posted by Braden West on Tuesday, July 5, 2022
“Don’t ever give up … No matter how hard the mountain is to climb, keep climbing because the view at the top is amazing!”
Thanks to Braden’s faith and determination he’s not only survived but thrived with his amazing grades.
