Help Meg, Ryan & Baby Jude on Their Journey to Healing
On January 26, 2025, baby Jude surprised us all by arriving way earlier than expected — at just 29 weeks and 3 days, weighing just under 4 pounds. What followed has been a rollercoaster of emotions, hospital days, and endless love and hope.
Meg’s Story
Meg’s journey started on November 22, 2024, when her water broke unexpectedly — right after Thanksgiving. She was admitted to the hospital and ended up spending 68 days there, including Christmas, New Year’s, and Ryan’s 31st birthday.
She and Ryan made the best of a tough situation — working full-time from her hospital room and doing their best to stay strong through all the uncertainty. Over those two months, Meg had:
• 111 non-stress tests
• 10 ultrasounds (checking fluid and growth)
• 1 fetal echocardiogram
On January 26, Meg developed an infection and needed an emergency c-section. She had some complications during delivery, including significant blood loss, and spent three days recovering while Jude began his fight in the NICU.
Jude’s Story
Jude’s early arrival came with some big hurdles. He needed help breathing right away and was placed on a ventilator and special oxygen support.
Soon after, doctors found a brain bleed (Grade 3 IVH) that caused fluid buildup, so Jude had two brain surgeries to relieve the pressure:
• First, a temporary shunt was placed but didn’t work for long
• Then, a VP shunt (a more permanent one) was placed about six weeks later
Jude’s lungs are still growing and healing — he was diagnosed with chronic lung disease (BPD), which means he’s needed a lot of breathing support. He’s also been dealing with:
• Pulmonary hypertension and an atrial septal defect (ASD)
• 5 blood transfusions
• Lots of imaging and testing — X-rays, ultrasounds, MRIs
• Infections, kidney stones, and more line placements than we can count
Still in the NICU
Right now, Jude is still in the hospital, still on a ventilator, and still working hard every day to get stronger. There’s no clear timeline yet for when he’ll come home, but his care team is doing everything they can to support his lungs and keep him moving forward.
Why We’re Asking for Help
Meg and Ryan have been doing everything they can to stay strong and present through all of this — working from the hospital, showing up for every test and procedure, and loving Jude through it all.
But months in the hospital, two surgeries, and all the specialized care Jude needs have added up quickly — and this is just the beginning. There are still so many unknowns ahead.
If you’re able to chip in and help with medical bills, travel costs, and future care, we’d be incredibly grateful. And if you’re not in a place to give right now, sharing this page means just as much.
Thank you for being part of Jude’s village — for the love, prayers, and support you’ve already shown. We can’t wait for the day we get to share a photo of Jude heading home.
