Dear family and friends,

Many of you know that I am a fundraiser at Johns Hopkins Children's Center - in fact, Radiothon is my baby and I feel so honored to tell the stories of our patients and families. Over the past 11 years, I have helped to share nearly 100 of our patients’ stories – but now I would like to share mine. 

My niece, Abigail, was born after a difficult pregnancy at 26.3 weeks via emergency C-section and was immediately sent to our NICU. Abby weighed in at a mere 2 pounds, 2 ounces and was so tiny, she could fit in the palm of my brother-in-law’s hand and his wedding ring fit around her ankle.

Born with underdeveloped lungs and intestines, we all knew Abby had a long road ahead of her. At 1 day old, Abby experienced sudden intestinal perforation and bile was flooding her body, threatening infection. She had emergency surgery in her private NICU room to place drains and repair the perforation. Abby's drains stayed in for six weeks, but after the drains were removed doctors couldn’t regulate her breathing and she started to code. Ultimately, Abby needed to be intubated. She coded twice more — the third time, it took a team of respiratory therapists three hours to resuscitate her.

Abby had developed an infection, and doctors placed her in a medically induced coma for seven days to allow her body to rest and heal. Abby remained intubated for three months, and once she was able to breathe on her own, she underwent surgery to place a g-tube.

Abby spent nearly the first year of her life fighting for her life at Johns Hopkins Children's Center – after 314 days, she finally was able to come home. 

Now instead of fighting for her life, Abby fought to crawl and now run and is unstoppable. She fights with her mom about wearing princess dresses to school. She fights with me when I tell her no and runs around waving her little finger yelling “no, no, no!” That little girl is and will always be a fighter. 

Read and listen to Abby’s story.

I am so thankful for the place that has saved the lives of countless families, and now my own. You never know when you will need a place like JHCC, until you do. My family is living proof of this. Please support kids like Abby and ensure this place is here for families to come - families that never knew they would need Hopkins Children’s - families that one day might be yours. 

#teamabbymay #thoshebelittleshebefierce #preemiestrong #givingfeelsgood #tinyfighter

For the kids, 

Cynthia