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Lennon Dean (the son of Krysta and Sean) was born at 28 weeks + 3 days on 03.01.21 at 11:01 am, weighing 2lbs, 2oz at Tacoma General Hospital. This little love is tiny, but mighty and has been defying the odds since day one. He is a fighter.
Lennon's biggest battle has been his lungs. Even though he was born at 28 weeks - he had the lungs of a 23 weeker. He is currently intubated on a ventilator unable to breathe on his own. Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio is the only hospital in the nation with a NICU specializing in chronic lung disease, also known as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Lennon's medical team began consulting with Nationwide hoping that he would be able to remain in Tacoma.
However, Lennon started having increased work of breathing despite continuing to increase his ventilator settings per the Nationwide doctor’s recommendations. They did lab work, a viral panel and X-rays to make sure that Lennon wasn’t developing a virus or an infection but all of the tests came back negative. On Friday 5/14, two of his neonatologists came to talk to his parents after discussing Lennon with all of the neonatologists that have got to know him very well over the last 77 days. They expressed their concern that despite consulting Nationwide and trialing their ventilator protocol, Lennon’s status has not been improving enough to the point where they feel confident that they are giving him the best care, therefore they believe Lennon will get more specialized care if he was transferred to Nationwide, where he can be assessed and treated by doctors who see babies like Lennon all the time. While his parents have known this was a possibility since they started consulting with Nationwide a few weeks ago, this still came as a huge shock. The thought of leaving their home, jobs, family and friends, pups, NICU nurses, RTs and doctors that they have grown to love and trust, to move across the country for an unknown amount of time is completely terrifying and overwhelming, but they have decided that they will do everything in their power to make sure Lennon gets the best care possible.
As soon as insurance approves the transfer, his parents will be moving across the country to live in Columbus, Ohio until Lennon is able to come home.
While there is still so much unknown and they are terrified of what is to come, they feel blessed to have the opportunity to make sure Lennon gets treated by the best of the best who specialize in babies with BPD. They have no clue whether they will be in Ohio for months or for years but we hope to know more in the coming weeks. For now, Krysta plans to take a leave of absence from work and Sean plans to travel back and forth between Ohio and Washington to finish school and to work for the forseeable future so that they can maintain insurance benefits.
Anything that you can do to help would be greatly appreciated. Lennon's family has a long journey full of unknowns ahead of them. They believe in the power of prayer and would appreciate it if you would keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
They would like to thank you for your support and your love.
Lennon's biggest battle has been his lungs. Even though he was born at 28 weeks - he had the lungs of a 23 weeker. He is currently intubated on a ventilator unable to breathe on his own. Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio is the only hospital in the nation with a NICU specializing in chronic lung disease, also known as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Lennon's medical team began consulting with Nationwide hoping that he would be able to remain in Tacoma.
However, Lennon started having increased work of breathing despite continuing to increase his ventilator settings per the Nationwide doctor’s recommendations. They did lab work, a viral panel and X-rays to make sure that Lennon wasn’t developing a virus or an infection but all of the tests came back negative. On Friday 5/14, two of his neonatologists came to talk to his parents after discussing Lennon with all of the neonatologists that have got to know him very well over the last 77 days. They expressed their concern that despite consulting Nationwide and trialing their ventilator protocol, Lennon’s status has not been improving enough to the point where they feel confident that they are giving him the best care, therefore they believe Lennon will get more specialized care if he was transferred to Nationwide, where he can be assessed and treated by doctors who see babies like Lennon all the time. While his parents have known this was a possibility since they started consulting with Nationwide a few weeks ago, this still came as a huge shock. The thought of leaving their home, jobs, family and friends, pups, NICU nurses, RTs and doctors that they have grown to love and trust, to move across the country for an unknown amount of time is completely terrifying and overwhelming, but they have decided that they will do everything in their power to make sure Lennon gets the best care possible.
As soon as insurance approves the transfer, his parents will be moving across the country to live in Columbus, Ohio until Lennon is able to come home.
While there is still so much unknown and they are terrified of what is to come, they feel blessed to have the opportunity to make sure Lennon gets treated by the best of the best who specialize in babies with BPD. They have no clue whether they will be in Ohio for months or for years but we hope to know more in the coming weeks. For now, Krysta plans to take a leave of absence from work and Sean plans to travel back and forth between Ohio and Washington to finish school and to work for the forseeable future so that they can maintain insurance benefits.
Anything that you can do to help would be greatly appreciated. Lennon's family has a long journey full of unknowns ahead of them. They believe in the power of prayer and would appreciate it if you would keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
They would like to thank you for your support and your love.
Organizer and beneficiary
Krysta Norgard
Beneficiary