The Story of Michael Joseph Skaggs (M.J.)
A Breath of Hope
Today,
our family was affected by Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH), a birth defect in
unborn babies.
5 families a day are affected, 1,800 families a year. CDH occurs just as often as Spinal
Bifida, Cystic Fibrosis, and Muscular Dystrophy. Yet we do not hear of it until
diagnosed, like our family.
My brother and his wife were expecting twin boys. One day they went to a regular
scheduled sonogram appointment. On that day May 8, 2009 their lives changed. The
doctor informed them, Will is going to be healthy while Michael Joseph (MJ) will be
born with CDH. As any other family we were all devastated but remaining positive.
CDH is when the diaphragm does not completely close in the unborn baby and causes
the organs to migrate into the chest cavity. These babies need to have surgery to
correct their organs. They are in the NICU and on a machine called ECMO. These
babies have a 50/50 chance at a healthy life. Here in the state of Nevada we do not
have an ECMO machine.
The twins were born to their proud parents, William and Megan Skaggs on July 25,
2009 in the state of Kansas City, KS. Will and MJ both weighed 6 lbs. As soon as the
boys were born, MJ had 7 people working on him. He was unable to breathe on his
own, due to his lungs being so small and underdeveloped. He constantly fought; he
would have good and bad days. On one of MJ’s good days his mother was able to
give him a sponge bath. He would always squeeze their finger, not wanting to let go.
MJ loved his family so much. One day they even got to see his baby blues, which
reminded them of the bluest blue of the ocean. He had 3 surgeries within 1 month to
correct the organs. It came time for MJ to come off the ECMO. Since he couldn’t
breathe on his own he had to be on a ventilator.
Willie and Megan got word one day from the doctor that MJ will probably be in the
hospital for another 6-12 months. They were not prepared for that news, as many
times before. Again MJ had a good day, then bad and eventually told there was nothing
more they could do. His blood pressure was dropping and everything was shutting
down. Our little angel was turning blue and slowly going to heaven. His parents never
got to hold him since he was hooked up to so many machines. Until that day when it
came time and they made the hardest decision a parent should never have to make. We
had such a strong prayer chain all over the states but God knew it was time and had his
plan for MJ. For the first time, Willie and Megan were able to hold MJ and be a
family. While holding their two sons for a few hours all four of them were finally
together the way God wanted it. They got to touch him, love, kiss, hug, and baptize
him. They gave him much much love before he passed away in his mother’s arms. MJ
lived and fought for 35 days. Our little angel touched us all. In our hearts always, we all
MISS YOU!!
For More Information
www.breathofhopeinc.com
www.projectsweetpeas.com
our family was affected by Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH), a birth defect in
unborn babies.
5 families a day are affected, 1,800 families a year. CDH occurs just as often as Spinal
Bifida, Cystic Fibrosis, and Muscular Dystrophy. Yet we do not hear of it until
diagnosed, like our family.
My brother and his wife were expecting twin boys. One day they went to a regular
scheduled sonogram appointment. On that day May 8, 2009 their lives changed. The
doctor informed them, Will is going to be healthy while Michael Joseph (MJ) will be
born with CDH. As any other family we were all devastated but remaining positive.
CDH is when the diaphragm does not completely close in the unborn baby and causes
the organs to migrate into the chest cavity. These babies need to have surgery to
correct their organs. They are in the NICU and on a machine called ECMO. These
babies have a 50/50 chance at a healthy life. Here in the state of Nevada we do not
have an ECMO machine.
The twins were born to their proud parents, William and Megan Skaggs on July 25,
2009 in the state of Kansas City, KS. Will and MJ both weighed 6 lbs. As soon as the
boys were born, MJ had 7 people working on him. He was unable to breathe on his
own, due to his lungs being so small and underdeveloped. He constantly fought; he
would have good and bad days. On one of MJ’s good days his mother was able to
give him a sponge bath. He would always squeeze their finger, not wanting to let go.
MJ loved his family so much. One day they even got to see his baby blues, which
reminded them of the bluest blue of the ocean. He had 3 surgeries within 1 month to
correct the organs. It came time for MJ to come off the ECMO. Since he couldn’t
breathe on his own he had to be on a ventilator.
Willie and Megan got word one day from the doctor that MJ will probably be in the
hospital for another 6-12 months. They were not prepared for that news, as many
times before. Again MJ had a good day, then bad and eventually told there was nothing
more they could do. His blood pressure was dropping and everything was shutting
down. Our little angel was turning blue and slowly going to heaven. His parents never
got to hold him since he was hooked up to so many machines. Until that day when it
came time and they made the hardest decision a parent should never have to make. We
had such a strong prayer chain all over the states but God knew it was time and had his
plan for MJ. For the first time, Willie and Megan were able to hold MJ and be a
family. While holding their two sons for a few hours all four of them were finally
together the way God wanted it. They got to touch him, love, kiss, hug, and baptize
him. They gave him much much love before he passed away in his mother’s arms. MJ
lived and fought for 35 days. Our little angel touched us all. In our hearts always, we all
MISS YOU!!
For More Information
www.breathofhopeinc.com
www.projectsweetpeas.com
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