Brayden’s SmartVest Story
When Brayden was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) when he was 8 days old, his mother, Keri, didn’t know what to expect, or how it would affect his life.
Two years later she is happy to report, “He’s just as naughty as any two-year-old.” And Keri credits the SmartVest for helping make that happen.
“He can do normal activities during treatment.”
“When Brayden was seven months old his doctors introduced us to the SmartVest,” Keri said. “It’s been a life-changer. He can do normal activities during treatment: Play board games. Read books. Watch Dora the Explorer.”
And yes, be naughty. “I’m so grateful he’s a typical boy,” Keri said. “I’ve heard stories of other kids who have problems [related to cystic fibrosis] early on, but we were fortunate. Other kids never had a chance to wear [a SmartVest] when they were so young. We believe this plays a huge part in why he’s so healthy.”
“We always do more because it’s so much easier with SmartVest.”
Although Brayden’s protocol calls for two treatments a day, Keri said Brayden does three sessions daily. “That’s one of the pros to having the SmartVest: It’s not so much effort that we do only what’s required,” she said. “We always do more because it’s so much easier with SmartVest. You can still read books and do activities.”
The SmartVest System’s small size and quiet operation make it easier to work into everyday life, but Keri has also made it a conscious decision.
“We make it something to look forward to.”
“I’ve always said we’ll never put his SmartVest in a bedroom or in a secluded place,” she said. “We’ll always do it in the family room and do it together and do activities at that time. We make it something to look forward to.”
That’s a sharp contrast to the manual therapy she expected to perform for Brayden’s first two years. “It’s 100 times easier than giving manual chest percussion,” Keri said. “Seeing him now, I can’t imagine having to hold him down for 20 minutes.”
“SmartVest has just been a blessing. We are very glad we were able to start him young. He’s had a very successful two years of life so far.”
