I’m sharing this fundraiser on behalf of Daniel and LeAnna Millen, a family I have known and cared about for many years. I was Daniel’s high school teacher in 2007, and over time I’ve remained a close friend of his family, even working with his dad and two of his siblings. I wouldn’t ask for support like this unless it was truly needed.

Daniel and LeAnna never imagined that parenthood would begin in hospital hallways, under fluorescent lights, surrounded by machines and monitors.

They imagined sleepless nights, first smiles, and the quiet joy of watching their baby grow.

Instead, just days after welcoming their son Nolan Jackson Millen into the world on March 26, 2025, they received life-altering news: Nolan was born with Down syndrome and a severe congenital heart defect known as an Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD).

From that moment on, Daniel and LeAnna stepped into a journey no parent is ever prepared for—one that would demand unwavering strength, deep faith, and more resilience than they ever knew they had.

Daniel & LeAnna’s Reality

LeAnna has spent countless hours at Nolan’s bedside—learning feeding schedules, managing tubes, pumps, and medications, and celebrating milestones that most families never have to fight for. Daniel has balanced work disruptions, hospital stays, medical advocacy, and the emotional weight of watching his son struggle for breath.

Together, they have become Nolan’s nurses, therapists, advocates, and fiercest protectors.

They do this not because it is easy—but because Nolan is their son, and they love him unconditionally.

Nolan’s Medical Journey

At just five months old, Nolan underwent open-heart surgery to repair his tiny heart. While the surgery itself was more successful than expected, long-term complications followed.

Nolan now faces:

Pulmonary hypertension, placing dangerous strain on the right side of his heart

Every ounce Nolan gains, every movement he learns, every breath he takes is hard-won.

And yet—he keeps fighting.

At eight months old, Nolan has learned to roll over on his own after weeks of therapy. He is working to relearn how to suck and swallow so he can one day eat without tubes. His parents celebrate victories most of us never have to think about.

Why This Fundraiser Exists

While Medicaid has covered much of Nolan’s hospital care, many critical and ongoing expenses are not fully covered, including:

Medical fragility doesn’t pause life—it collides with it.

This fundraiser exists so Daniel and LeAnna can focus on Nolan’s healing, not on financial survival.

Faith, Gratitude, and Community

Daniel and LeAnna are people of deep faith. They have prayed boldly, trusted even when answers didn’t come easily, and continued forward in love and hope for their son.

They are not asking for pity.

They are asking for community.

If you are able to give, share, or pray, please know that every act of support matters more than you can imagine.

Thank you for helping surround Nolan Jackson Millen—a little boy with a big fight—and the parents who love him fiercely.