Jackson B:
Nine Months in the Hospital | Normal Life at Home

Challenged from birth

At 24 weeks premature, Jackson came into this world with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), hernias, and a long way to go before his parents could hope to bring him home. His chronic lung condition made him even more medically fragile than other premature babies, and that meant a breathing machine from the moment he was born.

Jackson also needed multiple surgeries to repair his hernias, and a cardiac arrest stopped his heart and kept him in the hospital an additional month.

PHS and technology took him home, caregivers do the rest

PHS provided Jackson's nervous parents with everything they needed to care for their small son, from machines to keep his airway open, to oxygen tanks and food pumps, to education for the private duty nurses who provide 24-hour support. His parents have immersed themselves completely, giving Jackson the medical attention he needs, along with a healthy dose of plain, old-fashioned parenting: play time, walks, and holding their son.

"As crazy as it sounds, this is our normal," said Josh, Jackson's dad. "But we've been so blessed with the services we've got…PHS rocks!"

No sign anything was ever wrong

A part of Jackson's life since his first day at home, PHS caregivers and his physician have worked to wean him off the ventilator, increase his oral nutrition intake and, in July 2010, Jackson was decannulated , getting him off the trach-tube permanently.

It's working: Jackson can now breathe on his own, and he's at a good weight and height for his age. Had he stayed in the hospital, this process would have taken much longer and would have robbed Jackson's family from their time at home, together.

Instead, Jackson is thriving in a loving environment, and as he grows into adulthood, he'll show no sign that anything was ever wrong.