At 2 months old our son, Brody Thomas BeQuette, was admitted to the hospital for seven days with RSV, and against our better judgment they sent him home New Year’s Eve.

He seemed to be coming around, and on the night of New Year’s Day he woke up crying so we just figured it was time for a bottle. As I was making a bottle, his mother, Crystal Davis, called me back to the room because he had started gasping for air. I found him white as a ghost.

I told Crystal to call 911 and while she talked with emergency operators Brody turned purple/blue and stopped breathing.

I then went entered a frame of mind that I still have trouble explaining. I told myself I was too nervous to do CPR without hurting him further. So I put his face against an air purifier we bought while he was ill. Luckily that gave him enough air until the ambulance got there.

He crashed on the way to Natchez Community Hospital and once he got there as well. So the emergency room doctor made the call to the Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital and requested a helicopter.

Before getting on the helicopter they vented Brody to prevent trouble in the air.

The fastest, longest drive I’ve ever made was getting to that hospital before Brody did!

Brody was in ICU on a ventilator for nine days and then was moved to a room upstairs for the remaining four days.

Even though it was the worst time in our life, the nurses, doctors, family and friends made it a lot easier!

Not only did Brody’s mother and I go through this, Brody also has an 8-year-old brother Landon Davis who was just as worried as we were and stayed strong through the battle.

Blair E. Batson is an amazing place. You never will know what they do for the kids until you see it firsthand.

Every nurse Brody had was so nice and patient even with hundreds of people in and out of the hospital.

The hospital itself was extremely welcoming. I remember sitting there until 4 a.m. some days and every five minutes a nurse would come and check on us.

Brody just turned 1. Although he still has some lung damage, he is healthy and spoiled rotten.

With a healthy boy at home, I want to give back to the hospital that saved him. That’s why I’ve organized the First Fall Fun Day set for this Saturday on the bluff.

The event is for families and children and will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Live music, games, food and drinks will be available. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children, and all proceeds will go to the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children.

Please come out Saturday, and if you or your business would like to sponsor the event, please contact me at 601-807-0086. I’m also looking for volunteers to help Saturday.

This is one way for us and everyone to give back to this amazing place not only for Brody but for the thousands of children they treat each year.

Ron BeQuette is a Natchez resident, father and organizer of the First Fall Fun Day.