The Thanksgiving holiday conjures up pictures of tables loaded with food and people thankful for a variety of reasons.
One family from the Osgood area has a lot to be thankful for this season.

Chris and Lisa Bushhorn were blessed with a baby boy on August 23, Christopher Layne. However, in just a short time, they realized their precious baby had multiple medical hurdles to overcome. He was born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia CDH.

Layne has spent more days in the hospital than at home. At the end of October the couple was told Layne might come home by Thanksgiving. That sounded like a good plan to the couple, who has spent every moment possible at Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati.

On November 8 Layne came home. He has a heart monitor, feeding tube and more, but he’s home, and for that the Bushhorns are thankful. He’s also gained three ounces. While that doesn’t sound like a lot, it’s a lot in this situation.
Layne has had extensive surgeries and faces more. But, he is home now. They can touch and hold him. He is still monitored closely by doctors with the family making many trips back to the hospital for check-ups.

They were told that fifty percent of newborns with this condition do not survive. As they have watched their son struggle for life, they know just how precious he is to them.

A sister, Lexi and brother Kayden rounds out the family that knows what the top item on their list to be thankful for this holiday season is about - Layne.

Friends and family of the couple have organized a benefit to help defray mounting medical costs. It will be held December 4 at the Napoleon Community Building from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be a dinner and silent auction.

You can donate to the auction by calling Shawna Bushhorn (Layne’s paternal grandmother) at 621-0826 or the baby’s great aunts: Ginger Bradford at 812-756-0778 or Sonja Samples at 689-5015. There has also been a fund set up in the baby’s name at The Napoleon State Bank for those who would like to donate there.

Maternal grandparents are Paul and Linda Roell of Dillsboro and paternal grandparents Rick and Shawna Bushhorn of Osgood.

After babysitting for a while on Monday of this week, Grandpa Rick said of Kayden, who is two, “he’s always on the go.” He laughed and said it was quite an experience, trying to keep him relatively quiet so his father, Chris, could sleep, and attend to Layne’s needs as well. But, he said he was grateful for the time spent with his grandsons. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” he said.

The family appreciates all the support from the community and say they have a lot to be thankful for.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Surrounding the newest member of the Bushhorn family, Layne, center, are big brother, Kayden, 2, sister, Lexi, father, Chris, and mother, Lisa. The family is thankful to have Layne home from the hospital and for all the support from family and friends during this time in their lives.