'We are lucky': Salisbury firefighter gives back after son, now healthy, has heart surgery

Salisbury firefighter Brandon Records faces innumerable life-threatening scenarios on an almost daily basis — burning buildings enveloped in flames, disastrous vehicle rollovers and much more.

Yet, nothing could prepare him for what would ultimately be the scariest moment of his life — the day he handed his 4-month-old son over for open heart surgery, putting the boy's life in strangers’ hands.

It was at Mason's birth in 2021 when Brandon and his wife, Crystal, first discovered that the boy's oxygen saturation was low. Mason, a mere infant at the time, was taken for a follow-up echocardiogram, where doctors' initial concerns regarding his health were confirmed.

It was something no parent ever wishes to hear.

"That's when they broke the news to us," Brandon, 36, recalled, his eyes downcast. "They said, 'He has tetralogy of Fallot. It requires surgery. There's no way around it.' "

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tetralogy of Fallot is a birth defect that affects normal blood flow through the heart. The defect occurs when a baby’s heart does not form correctly as the baby grows and develops in the mother’s womb during pregnancy.

Tetralogy of Fallot is considered a critical congenital heart defect due to its presence at birth.

Fortunately, Mason had a more mild case of tetralogy of Fallot, Brandon said.

Nevertheless, open heart surgery was required.

The Records family was asked to report to Children's National Hospital, located at 111 Michigan Ave. NW, in Washington D.C. — a two hour drive from their home in Salisbury, Maryland — at 7 a.m. to prep for surgery.

"As soon as you wake up, reality hits — today's the day," Brandon said, his voice thick with emotion.

OCEAN CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT: Meet the Ocean City Fire Department's new four-legged hero, therapy dog Max

'The most gut wrenching feeling I've ever had'

Handing Mason over for open heart surgery was a moment the firefighter will never forget. Brandon can recall breaking down alongside his wife, and nearly collapsing as his son was taken from his arms.

Emotions ran high, and tears were plentiful.

"When you hand your child over, there's nothing you can do," he said, holding back tears. "You hand him over to the nurses and they say, 'You can give him a kiss.' Then they take him back. It's the most gut wrenching feeling I've ever had."

Mason was rolled into the operating room at about 8 a.m.

After hours of anxiously pacing and waiting, it wasn't until around dinnertime when Brandon and Crystal were finally invited back to see their son. The surgery itself lasted nearly 10 hours, Brandon said.

"We went up to the cardiac ICU and, when they brought him in, there were (central) lines and (chest) tubes everywhere," he said of the moment he laid eyes on Mason. "There's a 4-month-old baby sitting there with all of this going on, stiches and staples down his chest. It was tough."

But, he said, the hospital staff managed to make an overwhelming experience bearable.

"The nursing staff was phenomenal, absolutely phenomenal. The doctors and physicians were phenomenal. Everyone at Children's National Hospital — I don't care if it was the sanitation coming in to change the trash — they were some of the nicest people we've ever met," Brandon shared.

"Children's National Hospital made the worst time of my life the best worst time," he added.

SALISBURY HERO: This Salisbury boy saved 2-year-old sister from a fire. ‘Family means everything,’ he says

Mason's post-surgery ordeal: 'It's astounding how kids heal'

Following his surgery, Mason developed junctional ectopic tachycardia (JET), which can be described as an abnormally fast heart rate originating from the atrioventricular (AV) junction. JET is a common postoperative arrhythmia in those who undergo surgical correction of congenital heart defects.

As a result, Mason was required to remain in the hospital for about one week. During his stay, Brandon and his wife — when they were not already with their son — stayed close by at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington, D.C.

"It's astounding how kids heal," Brandon said of Mason's quick recovery.

Mason, now two-years-old, goes for yearly echocardiograms.

Doctors at Children's National Hospital have assured the Records family that they fully expect Mason to live out his life no different than other children. He will discover his limitations, if any, with age.

"Other than that, he's just a normal kid," Brandon said of his bright-eyed, high-spirited son.

Now, Mason — who is turning 3 in January 2024 — runs around the house doing parkour, Brandon jokes with friends and family. The toddler is as active as ever and, for that, Brandon, Crystal and Mason's older sister, Emilia, are eternally grateful.

A desire to give back inspires blood drives, fellow firefighters

After Mason's surgery, Brandon wished to give back to Children's National Hospital in any way that he possibly could.

Since then, he and his wife travel more than 100 miles to the hospital each year to donate blood. Brandon also encourages other fellow firefighters to join him on the road, and has successfully led a large party to D.C. year after year.

The Salisbury native hosted his first blood drive in 2022, his second in 2023, and plans to return to Children's National Hospital in the new year alongside his wife and more.

Donating blood is a safe way to help save lives and get involved in the surrounding community. More information about where to donate, as well as blood safety basics, can be found on CDC.org.

"Every little bit matters," Brandon said.

The Salisbury Fire Department is a close-knit family.

“When something health-related happens, we can portray this hard shell of tough, mean guys, but I would argue there's no one better than firefighters when it comes to coming together for people in need," he said.

SALISBURY: Salisbury's newest mural celebrates its landmarks at one of its beloved eateries

For fourth-generation firefighter, a tough but rewarding job

Brandon, a fourth-generation firefighter following in his father's footsteps, has been a member of the Salisbury Fire Department for nearly 16 years. It's a rewarding, albeit challenging, career, he said.

"It's very tough in a lot of aspects — mentally, physically. We see things that normal people shouldn't have to see. It's all very raw," he shared. "Wherever (the job) takes us, that is our workplace, that is our office for that period of time."

His job, he said, can be frightening at times. But it’s fear that keeps him out of harms way.

"Anybody who says they're not afraid is just bold-faced lying. There's always a fear. If you don't have a fear, that's when you're going to get hurt," he admitted. "You always have to have a respect for it, and fear of it."

The dangers of the job — both as a firefighter and a parent — are endless.

"When they tell you your son has to have open heart surgery at 4-months-old, you're thinking, 'Why me?' But now, I'm a different person today because of it," Brandon said, glancing at his son, now healthy and happy. "As bad as our situation was, it could be so much worse. We are lucky."

FIREFIGHTERS: Firefighters will get big boost with safety upgrades from burst of bipartisanship

Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at ominzola@delmarvanow.com.

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Firefighter recounts son's open heart surgery, thanks D.C. hospital