An Early Arrival and a Fight for Life

Two years ago, on April 17, 2023, John entered the world far earlier than expected – but not without purpose.

Nicole and Jordan were just 20 weeks into their pregnancy when Nicole went into premature labor. She was 2 centimeters dilated, and doctors quickly performed an emergency cerclage to hold her cervix. It didn’t hold. Nicole was admitted to St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital and placed on strict bed rest, doing everything she could to give their baby boy more time.

“We had a choice,” Nicole said. “But we wanted to give him a chance to live.”

Miraculously, she made it to 23 weeks – a stage many still don’t consider viable. But Nicole and Jordan chose hope.

On April 17, their son John was born via emergency c-section, weighing barely more than a pound. It was the beginning of an extraordinary journey filled with courage, setbacks, love – and miracles.

A Turning Point in the NICU

John spent more than seven months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St. Joseph’s, fighting through each day with quiet strength. At just two months old, his oxygen needs had maxed out. There were no further medical interventions left to try. Doctors told Nicole and Jordan they were likely down to hours or days. The family came together to have John baptized at the hospital, in what they believed would be his final moments.

At this point, John was so unstable that no one felt safe letting Nicole or Jordan hold him. But knowing how much it would mean to his parents, a nurse in the NICU went above and beyond to make it possible. Nicole and Jordan were able to hold their son – a powerful moment that became a turning point in John’s story.

Despite John’s fragile state, the nurse made it happen, knowing the healing power of a parent’s touch. Nicole and Jordan held him for 14 hours straight, soaking in what they thought might be their last moments together. But it wasn’t goodbye – it was the beginning of a miracle. That night, John began to stabilize. His oxygen needs dropped from 100% to 40%. It was a moment of love that saved his life.

“It was really incredible,” said Nicole. “And the staff made it happen – they truly saved his life.”

Battles, Breakthroughs and Resilience

In the weeks and months that followed, John underwent multiple eye procedures, including Avastin injections and laser surgery to preserve his vision, and endured various types of breathing support, including a jet ventilator.

At 7 months, after a sudden decline, John received a tracheostomy, giving him the ability to breathe more freely. Though he became unstable during surgery, his care team pressed on, and eventually, his body began to heal.

Setbacks followed. John coded multiple times, even after going home for short stints. Eventually, doctors discovered his trachea was collapsing entirely when he cried, preventing his lungs and heart from functioning properly.

“This is what caused all seven of his codes, which happened when he was sleeping and tried to pass gas and bear down,” said Nicole. “That would cause his trachea to 100% collapse, and his oxygen would drop, followed by his heart stopping.”

A tracheopexy surgery corrected the issue, and John began to thrive again.

Even as his tiny body faced enormous battles, John remained a pillar of resilience.

“Throughout this entire process, John has been such a special boy,” said Nicole. “He doesn’t complain, he doesn’t cry. His entire being just radiates such joy, calm and strength.”

In the early days, Nicole and Jordan kept much of their journey private. But as time went on, they found healing and hope in connecting with other parents online. Now, Nicole shares John’s journey to help others understand that a trach doesn’t make a child different – it simply helps them live.

“Life with a trach may be different, but different doesn’t mean it’s any less full than your average toddler,” said Nicole. “I want the world to know that! Which is why I share.”

A Joyful Homecoming and Bright Future

Over the course of nearly 17 months, both the NICU at St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital became a second home to the family. John celebrated his first birthday at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital – an emotional milestone his parents once feared they wouldn’t reach. It was a day filled with joy and community, complete with Tampa Bay Lightning gear, cheering staff, and a surprise visit from ThunderBug, the Lightning mascot who had become John’s biggest fan.

“His first birthday was one of the best days ever,” said Nicole. “The staff took something we were dreading – spending his birthday at the hospital – and turned it into an experience we will never forget. All the staff wore Lightning gear, and ThunderBug even held John – it really was the best day.”

Then, on September 3, 2024 – just weeks after his corrected birthday on August 12 – John was finally discharged. As he left the hospital for good, ThunderBug returned once more to escort him out, and the entire PICU lined the hallways for a heartfelt clap-out celebration. It was a full-circle moment filled with tears, hugs, and overwhelming joy.

“It’s not ideal to live in a hospital for 17 months,” said Nicole. “But we loved it there. The amazing staff became our family and made it a little easier to walk through those doors every day. We really can’t say enough good things about the staff. He was, and still is, so loved. It’s an amazing community there. We were grateful to be in a place where it’s hard to leave – these people will be in our lives forever. There’s just something so different there – everyone is so personal and compassionate.”

Today, John is thriving at home. He now weighs nearly 30 pounds and is doing incredibly well – so well that his care team has begun weaning him off the ventilator. Every day, he grows stronger. Every milestone feels monumental.

“John is now 29 pounds, which is wild,” said Nicole. “He has made many vent weans since being home, but is still on the vent 100%. Next month, we will start to trial coming off the vent!”

John’s story is a testament to love, perseverance, and the power of compassionate care. From watching Tampa Bay Lightning games in the NICU as a form of therapy, to forming unbreakable bonds with nurses and doctors who became family, this journey has touched countless lives.

“Our son would not be where he is today without the love and support of St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital and St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital,” said Nicole.

“Every single person there has helped our family in this journey. From the front desk agents who knew us by name and asked us every day how our son was when we walked through those front doors, to the workers in the cafeteria who would pray with us, to the environmental services team that would clean his room daily but always check on us parents to see if we needed anything – every single person went above and beyond to care for our family during our darkest hours. I will never be able to express my gratitude to his medical team. Even now, being home, they still check in on John. A few of his PICU nurses have become family at this point. They visit regularly and have watched John so my husband and I can be normal parents and have a date night. John will even be the ring bearer in one of his PICU nurse’s weddings this summer. They are angels on earth.”

Happy 2nd Birthday, John. You are deeply loved, endlessly celebrated and truly one of a kind.