Meet Anik
ANIK’S STORY
We named our handsome boy Anik (it means soldier) and boy has he lived up to that!! July 14th, 2022 we went in to our local hospital to be induced and bring our precious baby boy into this world. We had no previous knowledge there was anything amiss with our sweet boy, but as soon as he made his way into our lives it became very evident, very quickly that something was immediately wrong. The doctors tried to stay calm - and keep me calm - but as they rushed him out calling “Code Blue” his dad followed desperately trying to figure out what the issue was. It was absolutely the scariest time of both our lives, and moments we’ll never forget! I was left in the delivery room with my doctor and nurses as they told me “…everything would be okay”. His dad stood and watched him, he didn't make a noise, struggled to breath, and barely clung to life. Eventually we were told Anik needed to be transported via life flight helicopter to another hospital with a more robust neonatal intensive care unit.
As we eventually learned (as everyone else does), with CDH that was just the start of what would become we’ve ever endured…one we still fight to this day. Over the several months he has remained at OHSU Doernbecker NICU in Portland, Oregon. He underwent his CDH repair surgery at just four days old and has since responded well to just about all his therapies, We now travel 3+ hours round trip daily to visit, support, and love on our sweet boy as we he has a brother at home trying to understand this new life. We hope to have Anik home in the near future, he is truly our soldier and now that with enough time he will forever be ready to put on his helmet and boots and head into battle!
As told to Fore Hadley by Jayme Thompson aka “Mom”
About the Fore Hadley Angels in the NICU Fund
Support and proceeds for the Fore Hadley Angels in the NICU Fund will go towards assisting current and future families like Alexandria’s, by providing financial contributions to assist families with the costs associated with extended, long distance travel and living arrangements. Costs that are often a must to ensure the proper specialty care for CDH babies.