Micheal Vu Jr.
On July 27, 2016, Micheal Vu Jr. was born six weeks early. Unknown to his parents, Melissa and Micheal Vu, their son had multiple congenital anomalies. Micheal Jr. was born with a tethered cord, anal atresia, multiple cardiac defects, tracheoesophageal fistula, cleft palate, renal defects, a limb abnormality (his right hand does not have a…
Lillian Wilson
Sarah Wilson, and her husband, Jeremy, dreamed of having another baby. After going through IVF and a miscarriage, they feared that dream may never come true, until they received a positive pregnancy test. When Sarah was 26 weeks pregnant, they learned that their unborn baby had a congenital heart defect. Upon recommendation from her obstetrician,…
Lily Elizabeth Ward
“You never think it is going to happen to you. One day you’re sitting in the doctor’s office talking about what you’re going to make for dinner that night… The next minute the doctor comes in and is telling you that your baby will need open heart surgery after she is born.” This is how…
Lakynn Haver
Jennifer Haver remembers her pregnancy with daughter, Lakynn, now two years old, very vividly. In the early months, she was closely monitored by her obstetrician at SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital-Lake St. Louis for depression, anxiety, fatigue and tachycardia. Jennifer was placed on medication to address these symptoms and remained out of work for a…
Aidan Milner
Baby Aidan was born at 23 weeks gestation at St. Anthony’s Medical Center. It was an unexpected and unanticipated early arrival. After a few short days, Aidan was transferred to the NICU at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. He spent the next 70 days there, with what mother, Carla recalls as “so many ups…
Lucas Simcox-Powell
September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Two years ago this month, in 2016, that month of national observance would not have meant anything to Tana Simcox. But fast forward to current day, and childhood cancer is her daily awareness with 5-year-old son, Lucas. In September 2016, Lucas began complaining of “belly pain.” Her son…
Jamierson Montgomery
“From a mother’s standpoint — and you know mothers have a biased opinion — I think he is doing great. I think the Lord aligned us with the right doctors and the right people at the right time. They are my family,” says Jamie Montgomery, the mother of 1-year-old Jamierson. Jamierson was born on August…
William Stephenson
Baby William Stephenson was born full term on April 22, 2016 at Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital with his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck and body. Immediately after the delivery, William stopped breathing. William’s mother, Desirae recalled, “There was a lot activity going on. Doctors were working to get him breathing again and took…
Konnor Jones
Tiffani Jones, a teaching assistant in the Illinois Special School District was expecting her first child, in early March, 2016. Unexpectedly, Tiffani contracted pneumonia in December 2015. Complications required her to be hospitalized for the remainder of her pregnancy at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital. Her illness lingered on and baby Konnor was born at…
Barrett Earnest
Barrett Earnest has a calm demeanor and contemplative eyes. In six short months of life, he has undergone 10 medical procedures to address a cleft lip and palate, a heart defect and lung problems. His family anticipates several more procedures to deal with other health issues before Barrett turns 5 years old. “I promised myself…