Family vacation - Matt and Annie (Flegal) Hinton pose with their son, Brady, on their vacation to Cape Cod last year. Brady died on March 16, his second birthday. (Submitted photo)

Brady's parents were aware that their son would face trouble before he was even born. Doctors detected some birth defects in early sonograms, but assured the Hintons that the problems were minor. After Mrs. Hinton experienced a miscarriage with her first baby after 39 weeks, the couple was grateful to be pregnant with Brady just three months later.

"We were just excited to have him," she said, "and were ready to take on what we had to."

Because of the first miscarriage, Mrs. Hinton was considered a high-risk pregnancy. She underwent a slew of testing, as well as genetic counseling, to make sure that everything would go smoothly. As far as tests showed, everything was perfect.

When Brady arrived on March 16, 2006, the Hintons realized that their child was not well. Brady was born with severe renal failure and congestive heart failure, along with a cache of other troubles. The doctors had misdiagnosed his birth defects, and could provide no explanation as to why it happened.

The Hintons were told that a lot could go wrong from the minute of conception. Their son was considered a "medical mystery," afflicted with something that has yet to be diagnosed or discovered. Mrs. Hinton said that even after his death, Brady still doesn't fit one diagnosis, even after genetic testing.

"No one had a real idea," she said. "But after the kidney transplant failed, we knew something wasn't right in his body."

Brady had a team of eight specialty doctors, in addition to his pediatrician, working to keep him healthy.

"It was hard to manage, time-wise," Mrs. Hinton said.

In addition to a kidney transplant, Brady endured open-heart surgery and a total of seven major operations. He underwent 10 procedures and spent a quarter of his short life in the Intensive Care Unit.

"We couldn't treat him like a normal baby," Mrs. Hinton said. For 10-12 hours a day, her son was fed through a feeding tube in his stomach. Due to his heart issues, Brady couldn't suck or swallow like a normal baby. The Hintons had to learn a "whole spectrum of medical things" like administering oxygen and giving Brady injections for his kidneys.

"It was hard," Mrs. Hinton said. "But we never let it get us down."

Despite his health problems, Brady did have his "normal baby" moments. He teethed like a healthy baby and kept his parents awake at night with his crying. He loved to play with his toys, especially his favorite car toy. Mrs. Hinton said her son loved music and even had his own iPod.

Brady was considered legally blind, but could respond to lights and sound.

"That's what it took to visually stimulate him," Mrs. Hinton said. "He liked to play like any other kid."

The Hintons found a speaker to attach to his iPod with lights that would change color with the music. According to his mother, Brady loved any music that had a good beat, noting that rap music and Avril Lavigne were some of his favorites.

Brady Blaine Hinton died on March 16, 2008.

"We weren't expecting him to pass when he did," his mother said, but since the beginning of Brady's struggle, the Hintons knew they wanted to do something to give back.

"Once he passed, we decided to do it and do it right."

Aided by their business experience, Mr. and Mrs. Hinton formed Brady's Smile Inc. on April 24.

The charitable organization was so named for the bright smile that remained on Brady's face throughout his battle. The co-founders plan to use the charity both to help other families and children in Brady's position, and to serve as a "huge memorial" to their son.

"This is my new passion," said Mrs. Hinton, who once worked on Wall Street. "If I can help other people, then that's what I am supposed to do."

For someone who experienced Sept. 11, 2001, two blocks from the World Trade Center, Mrs. Hinton's life has been turned upside down more than once. But she said it isn't her attitude to "sit around and be sad."

"We've learned that everyone has a story. Our son died, but you just have to be positive - that's life."

The Hintons found inspiration in watching Brady fight for his life and by witnessing other parents in their situation. They credit the families for inspiring them to form Brady's Smile Inc.

"The strength and love that they have for their child is what helps the child get through it," Mrs. Hinton said.

They want the organization to show those families that they aren't alone and to "inspire people and make somebody's day brighter."

"If we touch just one person, then we've been successful," Mrs. Hinton said.

The Hintons hope to make the ICU more soothing for children and families through their organization.

"The emotions are up and down in there," Mrs. Hinton said. "The simple things that people do mean the world to you at the time. We just want to help."

She described being in the children's ICU as a "life-changing experience" and said she wants people to understand what it's like to be there. Mrs. Hinton noted that the children's ICU is becoming increasingly important as more children are being born with illnesses.

In honor of their son's love of music, Brady's parents want to be able to implement music in hospitals and give patients access to music in their hospital rooms. Eventually, the couple also hopes to provide scholarships in their son's name to institutions benefiting children in need.

Brady's Smile Inc. has been gathering steam in the two months since its inception.

The Hintons have filed paperwork to help their organization gain official 501(c)(3) status through the IRS.

Mrs. Hinton is also meeting with the Yale Children's Hospital in hopes of implementing a program there.

"It's the first stepping stone," she said. "It should be really neat."

The Hintons have established a Web site for Brady's Smile Inc. at http://www.bradyssmile.org/ , where donations can be made via PayPal. A kickoff party and fundraiser is planned in Mrs. Hinton's native Clearfield on Oct. 4. The Hintons hope to keep the proceeds in Pennsylvania, especially for the Pittsburgh Children's Hospital where Brady's kidney transplant was performed, but they have yet to figure out all the details.

Brady's struggle was a journey, Mrs. Hinton said, but said it's the "best journey you could ever have. Life is a journey, embrace it," she offered. "It'll take you somewhere you'll never expect."

Anyone interested in donating to Brady's Smile Inc. may do so through the Web site or by sending a check made payable to "Brady's Smile Inc." to Brady's Smile Inc., P.O. Box 320921, Fairfield, CT 06825.