Ethan Weaver

29 weeks into our first pregnancy, we learned that our unborn child had a large amount of fluid in his belly and was in heart failure.  One week later, 10 weeks before his due date, Ethan entered our world via emergency C-section.  He spent his first 6 weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Shands Jacksonville.

 Ethan’s premature birth led to a large number of congenital defects, including cortical vision impairment, asthma, developmental delays and Cerebral Palsy. Before he was a year old, we learned that the slightest infection put him at risk for more serious complications.  The slightest cold or cough would put him into respiratory distress and led us to spend several nights at Wolfson Children’s Hospital during his first few years following birth.  It was during these early years of Ethan’s life that we learned firsthand about the care that Wolfson Children’s had to offer.

Last summer, Ethan underwent the first of three major surgeries to treat his Cerebral Palsy.  We spent nearly a week at Wolfson for the procedure and recovery.  While it was the most difficult ordeal we had faced as a family since Ethan’s birth, we would not have wanted to receive care anywhere other than Wolfson Children’s Hospital.

Although no parent ever wants to see their child in the hospital, we could not hope for a greater level of care than what we receive during each visit at Wolfson.  The medical staff always goes out of their way to make us feel welcome and comfortable.  Whether it’s bringing you a cup of ice in the middle of the night or speaking words of comfort during a painful procedure, the Wolfson team has become our extended family during the most trying times of our lives.

Click Here to Donate