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Nov 15, 2009 11:13 pm US/Central
Benefit For Family Of Stillwater Cop Who Died
ST. PAUL (WCCO) ―
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Brienne Heroux, 30, died in September from complications from HELLP, a rare syndrome that affects pregnant women. She had given birth two weeks earlier to Leland, who was born with part of his bladder outside his body.
CBS
When you watch St. Paul police officer Andy Heroux with his son, you'd never know he's only been a dad for two months. In his several-hour visit to O'Gara's Bar on Sunday afternoon, Leland hardly let out a peep.
"He means the world to me. Everytime I look into his eyes, I see our Bri. He's already my best friend," said Andy with the proud smile of a dad.
Our Bri was a Stillwater police officer, Andy's wife and Leland's mother. She died in September two weeks after she gave birth. She suffered from HELLPS, a rare complication of pregnancy, similar to a severe form of
preeclampsia. HELLP stands for Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzyme levels and a Low Platelet count.
It was a difficult childbirth. Leland was born with part of his bladder on the outside of his body. Immediately, and unrelated to his condition, his mom was taken to the ICU at St. Johns Hospital. She was later flown to the Mayo Clinic. Despite a successful liver transplant, she died 14 days after her son was born.
"They fought for two weeks for Brienne's life. They are wonderful people and I just want them to know how special they are in our lives," said Andy, referring to the doctors and nurses at St. Joe's, St. John's, Mayo and Children's Hospital in St. Paul.
Brienne had been a patrol officer in Stillwater for more than 4 years. Before that, she was a dispatcher with the Minnesota State Patrol and worked with the Eagan Fire Department.
"She left a void in our department," said Stillwater Patrol Sgt. Chris Felsch. "We all miss her."
Felsch and St. Paul Officer Jeff Lewis helped to organize a benefit for the Heroux family to help out with medical expenses. Thousands of people showed up to O'Gara's Bar in support. Children jumped on the climbing wall, parents bid on silent auction items as many people, some strangers, listened to the bands.
Lewis doesn't know if its police camaraderie or the fact the Andy and Bri are such good people that brought so many others out to the event.
"For me, the answer is easy. This is just what we do for each other," he said.
Andy says Leland will be OK. After one more cosmetic surgery next year, he's expected to be a healthy little boy.
"I know she's looking down on us. She's always going to be with Leland. She's always going to be with me and our family," Andy said. "I just want to do the best that I can to make her proud."
For more information about Leland's journey, you can visit his
CaringBridge Web site.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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