At just 4 months old a Dickson County boy will have to undergo open heart surgery.
    But the mother of the baby says rather than dwell on the surgery- she is using her son's condition to send a message.
Phoenix has what's nicknamed "Blue Baby" Syndrome...
    due to a heart problem he turns blue when he doesn't get enough oxygen in his blood.
    but it was through the need of blood donations for her son before the surgery... that misty Garrett found a way to help shine light on a crisis right here in middle Tennessee and across the country.
Misty Garrett says, “I'm just scared... to know that I am going to have to hand my son off and wait.”
Even through her fear - Misty Garrett looks at her little son's life as a blessing- and a chance to bless others.
Misty Garrett says, “I want every step of this to be able to help somebody else because without the help that I have gotten - I don't know where I would be.”
    Commonly called blue baby syndrome - the symptoms happen in spells a monitor helps detect them.
     If the symptoms continue or go too long it can cause blackouts damage to his tissues or even death.
    In order to get it fixed Phoenix will have to undergo open heart surgery - a procedure made possible by groundbreaking research that started right here at Vanderbilt in the 1940's
Dr. David Bichell, “Remove the blockage  so that plenty of blood can get to the lungs and close the hole between the red and the blue sides of the heart.”
But in order to go into surgery phoenix has to receive blood from donors.
    The 4 month old has B Negative blood - the second rarest type.
    Misty Garrett says, “We had the option to take from the blood bank which the day before we needed the blood for the surgery we found out that they were at a 36 hour critical level of blood.”
But Misty did not take that option - instead sending out a message on Facebook to find direct donors- leaving the already low supply at the Red Cross for emergencies.
    Misty says she was touched by the amount of people willing to donate - but hopes they don't stop with her son...
Misty Garrett says, “We want all of those people who would have donated to phoenix to go donate at a blood drive because we want people to realize there are people every day that need blood.”
    Born 7 weeks premature and with a 50 percent chance to live as a twin sharing the same placenta and amino sack---
      Little phoenix has been a miracle from the beginning... now he is helping to make miracles for others.
Baby Phoenix will undergo his surgery on August 9th- a savings account has been set up at Cornerstone Financial Credit Union.
    If you would like to donation blood in honor of baby Phoenix- here are the list of donation opportunities: 

Upcoming Blood Donation Opportunities:
8/1/12 9:00 AM    1:00 PM     1150 Antioch Pike, Nashville
8/2/12    8:00 AM    1:00 PM    L & C Tower 401 Church St., Nashville
8/2/12    2:00 PM    6:00 PM    613 South Main Street, Goodlettsville
8/3/12    9:00 AM    1:00 PM    5209 Linbar Drive, Nashville
8/3/12    11:00 AM 3:00 PM 1915 Gallatin Pike North, Madison
8/6/12    10:30 AM 2:30 PM 1818 Albion Street, Nashville
8/7/12    10:00 AM 2:00 PM 1900 Belmont Blvd., Nashville
8/7/12    10:00 AM 2:00 PM 1301 Medical Center Drive, Nashville
8/7/12    10:00 AM 2:00 PM 6050 Dana Way,    Antioch
8/7/12    10:00 AM 3:00 PM 2nd Avenue Nashville and 138 2nd Avenue North, Nashville
8/8/12    8:00 AM    1:00 PM    Ellington Agriculture Ed Jones Auditorium Hogan Rd., Nashville
8/8/12    4:30 PM    8:30 PM 2010 25th Avenue North, Nashville
8/9/12    9:00 AM    1:00 PM    425 5th Ave. South, Nashville
8/13/12    7:00 AM    12:00 PM 413 5th Ave S,Nashville
8/13/12    4:00 PM    8:00 PM    100 Arbor Knoll Boulevard,Antioch
8/14/12    7:30 AM    12:30 PM 220 French Landing Dr.,    Nashville
8/14/12    9:30 AM    1:30 PM    5510 Crossing Circle,Antioch
8/15/12    9:00 AM    2:00 PM    312 8th Ave. North, Nashville

In addition, donors are welcome to come to the Nashville Donor Center located at 2201 Charlotte Ave. Hours of Operation:
•    Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
•    Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
•    Saturday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.


You can also donate blood by:
Calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visiting redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information.Blue Baby Helps Others