WHEN JORDAN WAS SO SICK, WE MADE A WISH FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING HIS HEART DESIRES; MAYBE DRIVE
“Now, Jordan is nearly 9 months old. He is such a curious, active and happy baby. He loves his big sister, laughs and enjoys the love of the people around him. The best thing about being a mom of two is having two little ones to show the world to and have fun with, teach them new things and learn from them,” says Lauren. “When Jordan was so sick, we made a wish for him to be able to do anything his heart desires; maybe drive
minutes. ECMO life support kept him alive until he became stronger.” Fast forward a few months and Jordan’s condition has improved dramatically, although the road ahead will have challenges. He is followed closely in the heart failure clinic at Rady Children’s with regular cardiac echograms, labs and other tests. He also takes cardiac medications daily and participates in physical therapy, occupational therapy and other early intervention services. “He will always have congenital heart disease and will need to be followed by a cardiologist for the rest of his life,” Lauren says. “However, he is doing remarkably well and has not just survived but is thriving. Jordan is really a miracle, and that is thanks to the entire team in the CTICU at Rady Children’s, from the nurses and doctors to the support staff. They were fantastic, warm, caring and knowledgeable. They really treated Jordan as if he were their own. It was heartwarming to see how Jordan’s medical team went above and beyond to care for our son. I am so thankful for the team at Rady Children’s for giving Jordan a second chance at life.” And for Mother’s Day, Lauren received a special surprise from the Alex Morgan Foundation, Rady Children’s and Nike. The organizations gifted new moms an Essentials Kit that included baby onesies, blankets and a food delivery gift card to provide extra support during this difficult time. It was a heartfelt gesture that was very much appreciated.
GO-KARTS AND PLAY SOCCER. WHATEVER HE DECIDES TO DO, I WILL ALWAYS BE SO PROUD OF JORDAN
go-karts and play soccer. Whatever he decides to do, I will always be so proud of Jordan and am humbled that I get to be his mom,” she continues. “Jordan is a heart warrior, a life warrior and a true champion. Mother’s Day this year had even more meaning for me as it gave me a deeper appreciation for the gift of life.”
SPRING 2024 HEALTHY KIDS MAGAZINE 9
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