Meet Brady

Brady was born with pectus excavatum, a common condition in which his breastbone sinks into his chest as he grows. As Brady began puberty, it became clear he had a more severe case. Brady’s breastbone was sunk deep into his chest causing a bowl-like effect that put pressure on his lungs, affecting his breathing and his ability to play soccer, his favorite sport.

“The pressure on his lungs led to him needing an inhaler for sports and one thing after another,” recalls Brady’s mom, Amanda. “We got to the point where our pediatrician said, ‘If you want to speak to somebody at Nationwide Children's Hospital, now is the time.’”

The best time to undergo corrective surgery for pectus excavatum is between 15 and 20 years old, when the chest is developed but the sternum is still pliable.

At age 14, Brady met with Brian Kenney, MD, MPH, pediatric surgeon and director of the Chest Wall Center at Nationwide Children's. With the support of his parents and Dr. Kenney, Brady decided to have corrective surgery his sophomore year.

During the eight-hour surgery, Dr. Kenney inserted two metal bars under Brady’s breastbone that will remain there for three years.

“He looked different immediately,” recalls Amanda. “The second we saw him we could see his chest looked completely normal. His chest looked amazing.”

After a three-month recovery, Brady was back on the field playing soccer. “I can breathe so much better, it's crazy,” shares Brady. “Before, I felt like there was always something blocking my throat when I would breathe. But now, I can breathe normally.”

Brady still has two and a half more years with the bars but hasn’t let them get in his way.

“He doesn’t even think about the surgery when he's on the field now,” Brady’s dad, Bryan, says. “It's amazing to see what he's been able to do and his ability to go out there and just play the game the way he's always played it and not have any side effects.”

Brady hopes to play soccer at a collegiate level, and since his surgery, nothing will stand in his way.