LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- It's a home away from home for the sickest kids, a place no parent wants to be. But Julie Spry's been here before. She's reminded of the heartache as she walks through the pediatric intensive care unit at Norton Children's Hospital.
"He underwent 4 or 5 different surgeries within the first couple weeks of his life," Spry said.
Her son, Brady Zgonina, was born 7 weeks early with multiple congenital heart and stomach defects and down syndrome. He lived in the PICU for 3 months until he was strong enough to go home.
"He got to be just a regular kid, which was amazing because we honestly didn't think he'd make it after all he had to endure," Spry said.
Fastforward 3 years. Brady was your typical toddler, with a smile that would melt your own heart, a boy who loved Mickey Mouse and his big brother, Anthony.
"They felt that was the perfect time, he was the strongest he'd ever been," Spry said.
It was time for Brady to undergo a final surgery to fix his heart and it worked.
"The hard part was, his heart was fixed. But he got sick...They said there was nothing else they could do for him," Spry said.
He passed away from complications a month later, in October of 2011.
It's been more than 6 years since Julie's walked the PICU wing of the hospital.
"I think he stayed in a room in every single wing of this unit. There's a whole lot of memories floating back. Especially this room behind me, that's the room he passed away in. It was a horrific day. But there was also rooms you got to see him thrive and heal," Spry said.
While her heart will never fully heal, Julie made a commitment to honor Brady's short life.
"I decided to do something powerful for his 10th birthday," she said.
She made a goal of raising $10,000 for the very place so many doctors and nurses worked to keep Brady alive and with overwhelming support through social media, she's closing in on $15,000, and isn't stopping there.
"It's mind boggling to think, he endured so much but still smiled and tried and pushed through. He was such a happy and determined child who never complained. So, I want that room to be one of strength, so other families who stay there will know they're in a strong place that will help their child," Spry said.
Julie now hopes to raise $25,000 to name a room after Brady in the future Jennifer Lawrence Foundation Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.
"That unit is going to be huge for so many families," she said.
It will be a specialized space for children recovering from cardiac conditions and heart surgeries. In all, more than $25 million from the community will help fund its construction, set for completion by the end of next year.
Layout for the CICU
"I think it really is humbling for the staff. All the team works with their heart and these really are gifts from the heart that make a huge difference in the work that we do," Lynnie Meyer, with Norton Healthcare said.
Looking at the families currently on this floor, Julie says she just wants "to go and tell them it's going to be okay. "
After all, she is Brady Strong.
If you would like to help 'Brady Gives Back,' you can visit bradygivesback.blogspot.com.
►Contact reporter Brooke Hasch at bhasch@whas11.com. Follow her on Twitter (@WHAS11Hasch) and Facebook.