Meet Champion, Max

Born at 25 weeks due to chorioamnionitis, an infection in the amniotic fluid, Max weighed 1lb, 10oz and entered the world with his eyes still fused shut. Immediately intubated and placed in a Giraffe Omnibed, he received warmth, humidification, and a calm environment to help him grow. His earliest days were marked by critical care, multiple rounds of antibiotics, central lines, blood transfusions, and eye surgeries. So fragile at birth, Max couldn’t be held until he was one month old. After two months, he came off the ventilator, and 97 days after birth, he went home on a small amount of oxygen. Today, 10-year-old Max is unstoppable. An excellent student and athlete, he plays basketball, flag football, and any other sport he can. His only equipment now is a pair of glasses, a testament to how far he’s come as a result of life-saving, specialized care.