Please join in sending every ounce of love, hope, and prayer to a little boy who has already shown more courage than most of us will ever need in a lifetime.
His name is Jaxson.
Jaxson entered the world earlier than expected, born at 36 weeks on September 11, 2023. Within just two hours of taking his first breath, his journey took an unexpected turn. Instead of settling into his mother Candice’s arms and a quiet hospital room, he was transferred straight to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston. Even before birth, doctors knew Jaxson would face challenges. He had been diagnosed with Down syndrome and multiple heart defects, realities his family embraced with love and determination long before they ever met his tiny face.
At just seven days old, Jaxson underwent his first cardiac catheterization surgery. Surgeons placed a stent in his pulmonary valve to keep it open—an essential temporary measure to sustain his fragile heart until he is strong enough for open heart surgery. It was a procedure no newborn should have to endure, yet Jaxson did, beginning his fight almost as soon as life began.
Instead of spending his first weeks at home, Jaxson spent the first seven weeks of his life inside hospital walls. His parents learned the rhythms of monitors and medical rounds while waiting for the day they could finally bring their baby home. That day came on October 31, 2023, a long-awaited milestone filled with relief and cautious joy.
But their time at home was heartbreakingly short.
After just three weeks, Jaxson caught the rhinovirus. At first, it seemed manageable. He had been sick for about a week, and everything appeared to be improving. There were no alarming signs, no immediate red flags. Then, suddenly, everything changed.
His cardiologist noticed increased retractions—his breathing working harder than normal—and urged the family to bring him in for evaluation. Within 20 minutes of arriving at the hospital, Jaxson’s condition deteriorated rapidly. Candice watched as her baby was rushed into a room filled with nearly 26 doctors and nurses. His oxygen levels had dropped into the 40s. There was no time to wait. An emergency intubation was performed.
Just one day earlier, his oxygen levels had been perfectly fine.
On November 18, 2023, Jaxson was admitted to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta once again. What followed were weeks filled with fear, uncertainty, and strength no family should have to summon—but somehow does.
Since that day, Jaxson has been intubated three separate times. Doctors discovered he has a “floppy airway,” a condition that is common in children with Down syndrome and can make breathing extremely difficult, especially during illness or stress. Each attempt to remove the breathing tube brought hope, and each failure brought heartbreak.
Thanksgiving came and went inside the hospital. Christmas lights glowed not in a living room, but reflected off medical equipment. Jaxson’s first holidays were spent surrounded by nurses, doctors, and machines instead of extended family and familiar comforts. For Candice and her family, joy was mixed with grief for what should have been—and gratitude for every breath their son continued to take.
On January 2, 2024, Jaxson underwent his second cardiac catheterization surgery. This procedure allowed doctors to reevaluate the stent in his pulmonary valve, ensuring it was still positioned correctly and determining whether it needed adjustment. They also carefully examined the anatomy of his heart to assess how much longer he could safely wait before undergoing full open heart surgery.
The news from that procedure brought a moment of relief. Everything went well. Doctors now hope Jaxson can hold out until around five to six months of age before undergoing the major open heart repair he will eventually need.
But the journey is not over yet.
With Jaxson having failed extubation multiple times, doctors are now focusing on his airway rather than his heart as the primary cause. Another critical procedure is scheduled—one to evaluate his lungs and airway more closely, to understand what is preventing him from breathing on his own and how best to help him move forward.
Through all of this, Jaxson’s family has remained steadfast. Candice speaks not only as a mother fighting for her baby, but as the anchor holding an entire family together. Jaxson has four older sisters, each watching their baby brother endure more than they can fully understand, missing him deeply, and waiting for the day he can finally come home.
“We’re just ready to have our sweet boy home with us,” Candice shared.
Those words carry the weight of months spent in hospitals, the ache of interrupted beginnings, and the unbreakable love of a family that refuses to give up.
Right now, Jaxson needs prayers, love, and positive thoughts more than ever. He needs strength for the procedures ahead, healing for his tiny body, and peace for a family that has walked a road no one ever chooses.
Sweet Jaxson, you are not alone.
So many hearts are thinking of you, rooting for you, and believing in your strength.
May tomorrow’s procedure go smoothly.
May healing come step by step.
And may you soon be wrapped in the comfort of home, surrounded by the love that has carried you this far.
A Tiny Warrior with a Mighty Heart.7b
From the very first moment he entered the world, Finley’s life was a battle. Born with L1 Syndrome and severe hydrocephalus, his tiny body faced challenges that most adults could never imagine. While other newborns peacefully rested in their mothers’ arms, Finley’s earliest days were spent in the NICU, surrounded by the soft beeps of monitors, the hum of medical equipment, and the careful, watchful eyes of nurses who celebrated every small victory with heartfelt cheer.
Within just days of being born, Finley underwent brain surgery — a fight for survival that many children will never face in their lifetime. Yet even before he opened his eyes to the world, he had already shown courage that could move hearts. Every breath, every small movement, every tiny attempt to feed was a milestone, and every milestone was hard-earned.
Life in the NICU was not easy. The machines that kept him alive beeped relentlessly, the fluorescent lights never truly dimmed, and the hands that held him so carefully were always gentle but firm, guiding him through moments of discomfort and fear. Finley’s parents watched with equal parts hope and heartbreak. They couldn’t always hold him as they wished, couldn’t always shield him from the alarms or the pokes of needles, but they could be there — whispering words of encouragement, offering gentle touches, and celebrating every little win.
And win he did. Day by day, Finley’s determination shone brighter than any medical chart or diagnosis could reflect. His tiny fingers grasped the air with more confidence. His eyes, small yet piercing, began to sparkle with curiosity and life. Even the tiniest flicker of movement brought smiles and tears to those around him, because each gesture was a reminder that despite the odds, Finley was refusing to give in.
The nurses quickly noticed something remarkable about him. They would watch in awe as he met challenges head-on, often pushing through discomfort, pain, or fatigue, simply because he had the will to grow stronger. He was small, yes, but his spirit was unmistakably mighty. Each day, he taught everyone around him that courage does not always roar; sometimes, it whispers quietly in the steady beat of a fragile heart determined to live fully.
Finley’s journey was never about the diagnosis. It was about the fight within him, the fire that refused to dim, and the small victories that collectively created hope. Each feeding that went smoothly, each stable vital sign, each moment when he responded to the touch of a parent or nurse, was a triumph. Through the countless hospital visits, therapies, and medications, Finley’s heart and soul revealed a strength that defied his size.
For his parents, every day with Finley was a gift wrapped in challenges. They celebrated the little things that most would take for granted: a smile, a blink, a soft coo, a twitch of a hand. They learned to find joy in moments that others might overlook, because with Finley, every achievement was monumental. And with every small success, their admiration for their son grew exponentially. He was not just surviving — he was teaching them how to hope, how to persevere, and how to recognize strength in its purest, most unassuming form.
Now, as Finley continues to grow, his story inspires everyone he meets. He is still tiny, but his courage has already made him larger than life. His journey is far from over, yet one thing is abundantly clear: Finley embodies what it means to fight with heart, to live with determination, and to teach those around him that size and circumstance do not determine the magnitude of one’s spirit.
Every time he looks around with his bright, curious eyes, he reminds the world that even the most fragile among us can possess immeasurable strength. His life is a testament to resilience, love, and the incredible power of hope. Each milestone is more than a medical achievement; it is a celebration of life itself, proof that even in the smallest bodies, there can be the fiercest hearts.
Finley is more than a patient. He is a warrior, a miracle, and a living testament to the strength that resides in even the tiniest fighters. He reminds everyone who meets him that courage is not measured by size, and that true strength is revealed in perseverance, love, and the refusal to give up.
From his very first breath, Finley has shown that the smallest among us can carry the biggest hearts, inspire the deepest admiration, and light up the darkest rooms with courage. He is living proof that miracles exist, not only in extraordinary moments but in the quiet, persistent fight for life — a fight that he wages every single day with unmatched bravery and an unstoppable spirit.
💫💙 Finley may be small, but his courage is monumental. His heart is mighty. And his journey is a reminder to us all: even the tiniest warriors can achieve the greatest t
