Ontario mom shares incredible survival story of baby born at size of a marker
An Ontario mom is sharing the incredible survival story of her infant son.
Jaxen Green arrived premature, the size of Sharpie marker on Feb. 5. He was so tiny a ring could wrap around his foot, but four-and-a-half months later he's a big miracle - weighing seven and a half pounds.
"No one expects to gets pregnant and expects this to happen," Amanda Green of Bomanville, Ont. told CTV News Toronto in an interview Wednesday outside SickKids hospital.
When Green's water broke at 21 weeks and two days, four months before her due date, Jaxen’s life suddenly hung in the balance.
She said she then advocated to receive medical care at a high-risk obstetrics hospital in downtown Toronto.
"Where I later gave birth to Jaxen at 23 (weeks) and one (day), which he was a week passed viability. We signed the papers for full resuscitation. Given 10 per cent chances and odds of survival, a ton of deficits long-term and we took the chance on him."
Three days later Jaxen was moved to SickKids, where in return he has been continually fighting and growing.
Green said her son has endured several blood transfusions and surgeries.
"I remember sitting there, leaning over an incubator being told it's day-by-day, hour-by-hour, sitting there crying filled with fear, so many unknowns," she said.
"And now you look at him and he’s this full baby. And we've completely watched him grow, we seen him develop in front of our eyes. His eyes were fused shut when we met him. So we’ve really witnessed the power of medicine and we are forever grateful for this hospital."
The family now spends a lot of time at the hospital, caring, feeding and holding their miracle baby.
Green is also raising money for the NICU at SickKids, proceeds from 500 teddy bears already sold are planned as a gift to the unit.
She is also looking at ordering a new shipment to donate even more money.
"I will never take anything for granted. I think it’s important to inspire and educate. Empower people that don’t believe anything can happen because we know that anything can happen. It’s been a hard journey but motherhood comes with a lot of sacrifice."
"Our little warrior is going to have the best future."
Green says while there is no crystal ball to what health challenges Jaxen may face long-term, they are hopeful his health will continue on an upwards trajectory and he’ll keep amazing everyone around him.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cisco reveals security breach, warns of state-sponsored spy campaign
State-sponsored actors targeted security devices used by governments around the world, according to technology firm Cisco Systems, which said the network devices are coveted intrusion points by spies.
I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'oesn't get' the global phenomenom.
opinion RFK Jr.'s presidential candidacy and its potential threat to Biden and Trump
Although it's still unclear how much damage Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s candidacy can do to either Joe Biden or Donald Trump this election, Washington political columnist Eric Ham says what is clear is both sides recognize the potential threat.
Student anti-war protesters dig in as faculties condemn university leadership over calling police
Students protesting the Israel-Hamas war at at universities across U.S., some of whom have clashed with police in riot gear, dug in Saturday and vowed to keep their demonstrations going, while several school faculties condemned university presidents who have called in law enforcement to remove protesters.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Hamas is reviewing an Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, as possible Rafah offensive looms
Hamas said Saturday it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, as Egypt intensified efforts to broker a deal to end the months-long war and stave off a possible Israeli ground offensive into the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
'The world is too messy for bureaucratic hurdles': Canada still bars Afghanistan aid
Ottawa has plans to finally stop blocking Canadian development aid to Afghanistan this year.
Russia renews attacks on the Ukrainian energy sector as Kyiv launches drones at southern Russia
Russia launched a barrage of missiles against Ukraine overnight, in attacks that appeared to target the country's energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, Russia said its air defense systems had intercepted more than 60 Ukrainian drones over the southern Krasnodar region.