Post by wilcox97sister on Sept 19, 2013 19:00:26 GMT -5
Hi Elon Community and Fans,
I am writing ya'll to first thank you for letting our family be apart of the Elon community. As Andrew Wilcox's little sister, I feel like I grew up on Elon's campus and loved every minute of Elon football. I truly miss being at Rhodes Stadium every weekend. For those of you that remember my brother (Elon's kicker from 2005-2008, he was an All-American and named to SoCon's All Decade Team in 2010) I wanted to reach out and inform you of his 5 month old son Braden.
Andrew and his wife Gena welcomed a beautiful baby boy into the world on April 10, 2013. Little did they know that shortly after leaving the hospital, Braden became very ill and was rushed to the emergency room. Braden spent 3 weeks in the NICU at a children's hospital in Norfolk, Va and was later diagnosed with Argininosussinic Acid Lyase Deficiency (which is a Urea Cycle Disorder) which inhibits the body's ability to break down protein and causes the body to build up ammonia in the blood. Braden's ammonia level was so high that he almost died. Thankfully, Braden survived and with medication and a very strict diet he has been able to grow into a joyful and wonderful 5 month old. In order to ensure that Braden keeps fighting this disorder and continues to develop normally, Braden must receive a new liver before his current liver fails. Unfortunately, he is already showing signs of liver failure. Last Friday he was placed on the donor list and the Wilcox family is patiently waiting for a transplant. Please keep our family and sweet baby Braden in your thoughts and prayers. The website below was set up to help Andrew and his wife with medical bills and goes in detail about Braden's fight with this disorder:
www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/braden-s-battle-the-liver-is-evil-/88915
For those of you who know my family and my brother, you know how much pride Andrew has in being an Elon Football alum and how much he loved playing as a Phoenix. I personally loved having my Elon family and loved watching my brother and his teammates play every Saturday. Those boys turned into my older brothers that I still talk to and continue to rely on for advice. For Andrew and our family, it has been a hard realization that without this transplant Braden may never be able to step onto a football field and catch a pass or even kick a field goal. We pray that with this transplant, Braden will not only be able to live a fulfilling life but also be able to play football and follow in his father's footsteps.
Thank you so much for reading this and Let's Go Phoenix!
Emily Wilcox
I am writing ya'll to first thank you for letting our family be apart of the Elon community. As Andrew Wilcox's little sister, I feel like I grew up on Elon's campus and loved every minute of Elon football. I truly miss being at Rhodes Stadium every weekend. For those of you that remember my brother (Elon's kicker from 2005-2008, he was an All-American and named to SoCon's All Decade Team in 2010) I wanted to reach out and inform you of his 5 month old son Braden.
Andrew and his wife Gena welcomed a beautiful baby boy into the world on April 10, 2013. Little did they know that shortly after leaving the hospital, Braden became very ill and was rushed to the emergency room. Braden spent 3 weeks in the NICU at a children's hospital in Norfolk, Va and was later diagnosed with Argininosussinic Acid Lyase Deficiency (which is a Urea Cycle Disorder) which inhibits the body's ability to break down protein and causes the body to build up ammonia in the blood. Braden's ammonia level was so high that he almost died. Thankfully, Braden survived and with medication and a very strict diet he has been able to grow into a joyful and wonderful 5 month old. In order to ensure that Braden keeps fighting this disorder and continues to develop normally, Braden must receive a new liver before his current liver fails. Unfortunately, he is already showing signs of liver failure. Last Friday he was placed on the donor list and the Wilcox family is patiently waiting for a transplant. Please keep our family and sweet baby Braden in your thoughts and prayers. The website below was set up to help Andrew and his wife with medical bills and goes in detail about Braden's fight with this disorder:
www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/braden-s-battle-the-liver-is-evil-/88915
For those of you who know my family and my brother, you know how much pride Andrew has in being an Elon Football alum and how much he loved playing as a Phoenix. I personally loved having my Elon family and loved watching my brother and his teammates play every Saturday. Those boys turned into my older brothers that I still talk to and continue to rely on for advice. For Andrew and our family, it has been a hard realization that without this transplant Braden may never be able to step onto a football field and catch a pass or even kick a field goal. We pray that with this transplant, Braden will not only be able to live a fulfilling life but also be able to play football and follow in his father's footsteps.
Thank you so much for reading this and Let's Go Phoenix!
Emily Wilcox
