Parents say goodbye to their newborn as doctors remove life support, then he starts breathing immediately
The majority of moms will agree pregnancy and labor can be a scary time and all you want is to deliver a healthy baby, kicking and screaming.
But one mom was faced with the unthinkable when her baby boy was born with medical issues that left him on a ventilator. Her family prepared to say goodbye as doctors went to remove life support from their sick baby boy. But their miracle baby defied everyone’s expectations as he started breathing on his own!
When Chelsea Hough gave birth to baby Karson Jax at 36 weeks, things took a terrifying turn. The delivery was swift and the baby boy’s heartbeat was strong during labor, but all that changed after he entered the world.
The newborn’s heart suddenly stopped. After laying Karson on his mother’s chest, his heart started again. But soon, his heart rate was dropping again and doctors discovered a host of medical concerns. The doctors put Karson Jax on life support and ran a bunch of tests and evaluations.
Many questions surrounded the causes of this little boy’s illness but doctors eventually determined the only option was to remove life support.
“The only way to describe what has happened is that this beautiful baby boy has suffered two very rare traumatic conditions that are completely unrelated to one another. One being unidentifiable as to a cause,” Nana Lisa shared on her Facebook page.
The heartbroken mom added her newborn baby grandson had suffered a “hemorrhage in the left temporal lobe” and had also been diagnosed with a rare, genetic, metabolic disorder called Non-ketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH).
“His case is presented as severe and would cause him to be severely neurologically impaired – functioning at a 2-3 month old level at best for his lifetime,” Lisa wrote.
His mom, given all the information from the medical staff around her, made the incredibly tough decision to take him off life support.
“While we weren’t ready to say goodbye to Karson, we had come to terms with the inevitable. We were given 10 minutes after withdrawing intensive care and the ventilator and told he would not breath on his own and to expect his heart to stop within those 10 minutes.”, Lisa wrote of the heartbreaking moment they had to say goodbye to their sweet little one.
But, Lisa said it seemed “God had other plans” and she and her daughter witnessed a miracle.
“He immediately started breathing on his own once the ventilator was removed, heart rate and oxygen stabilized, and here we are 5 hours later with this miracle baby that we were told would never breath, swallow, have gag reflexes, or even survive. He is breathing unassisted.
“He is swallowing. He is surviving. He even has slightly opened his eyes a couple times today.”
According to Lisa, the doctors had no explanation for what happened saying no medical or science data supports this little fighter surviving; the only explanation they have is that it’s a miracle.
“I’m not sure why I ever thought we were so underserving of a miracle…and I’m not sure how long we have with him, but we have him now. And now we will take,” Lisa wrote.
Finally, on March 1, Lisa and her family were given the joyous news that their tiny bundle of joy would be coming home that week.
“Every day, I am brought to my knees, and just when I think God is done, I am quickly reminded that he isn’t….I have no words for my gratitude and I will praise Him for as long as I have air in my lungs for giving Karson his,” Lisa wrote.
Prayers continue to surround Karson Jax Hough and we ask that you add to them. The Lord clearly has big plans for this sweet little boy!
