Kid Captain: BraeLynn Krisinger

IOWA CITY, Iowa — BraeLynn Krisinger developed a serious bacterial infection that compromised her airway when she was 18 months old. She was taken to a local hospital and was placed on a ventilator for two months. She was taken off support and developed complications from the infection, which again made it difficult for her to breathe. She received an emergency tracheostomy and was air lifted to University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

BraeLynn had three major reconstructions to correct her complex airway over the next four years, and in 2017 she was able to have her trach removed. Two years later she underwent heart and lung bypass surgery to further aid her breathing.

Read BraeLynn’s story here.