Ethan Ward

At 23 ½ weeks pregnant, Melissa bent over and felt a pop in her belly. This was the beginning of a series of events that Melissa will always remember.

Melissa’s placenta had separated and she had started to hemorage. The immediate action was to get Melissa to Wolfson Children’s Hospital. When there, doctors tried to stop the labor. When that was unsuccessful, they informed Melissa that there was a chance that little Ethan might not survive the birth, but they would do all they can.

At 1lb 6oz, Ethan was born thanks to the skilled professionals at Wolfson Children’s Hospital. But there was still much to do. Ethan spent 3 ½ months at the NICU. During that time he had 3 surgeries; for his heart,  a hernia and laser eye surgery.

It was a difficult, yet amazing 3 ½ months for Melissa and Ethan. But he was alive and she was grateful. So grateful that she found it difficult to leave the NICU as they had become so dependent on the staff for life.

When Ethan was 1 year old, he began to have seizures. Once again he returned to Wolfson Children’s Hospital and was diagnosed with infantile spasms. Since his treatment, he has not had a spasm since, but that was not his last time at the hospital. Ethan received physical therapy to help him crawl and walk and was eventually diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy in his legs.

Ethan receives treatment to keep the muscles in his legs from getting to tight. Melissa says she would not dream of taking him anywhere else for treatment because that’s where the experts are.

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