Hello Everyone,

This is Nora and John Hefferon. We are reaching out to ask for support for our grandson, Callan, and his incredible parents, Lauren and Mike.

In February 2026, Callan — who was born with a rare airway condition — will take the most important step of his life: he'll begin the process to remove his tracheostomy tube and breathe independently for the first time.

This year-long journey will require multiple medical procedures, extended hospital stays, and many ongoing appointments to ensure his success. The costs will go far beyond what insurance covers, so we're humbly asking for your help.

Every donation, no matter the size, will mean everything to Lauren and Mike as they focus on getting Callan decannulated.

Callan's Story

In September 2021, Lauren and Mike received news that their unborn son had CHAOS (Congenital High Airway Obstruction Syndrome) – a condition so rare that fewer than 50 cases have been reported worldwide since 1989. What followed were months of uncertainty, traveling between clinics in Miami and Tampa, undergoing life-saving procedures, and planning his safe delivery.

On December 15th, at Tampa General Hospital, Callan was born through an extremely rare EXIT procedure involving 40 medical professionals who worked to secure his airway while he remained connected to the umbilical cord. He spent the next 83 days in the NICU, charming every nurse and doctor he met.

Since coming home, Callan has undergone seven surgeries to diagnose and correct his complex airway condition, requiring numerous trips to Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Yet, after everything he's been through, nothing has dimmed his bright, infectious personality.

How Your Donation Helps

The decannulation process will likely take a year, starting with surgery in early February and at least two weeks of recovery in Cincinnati. Callan will then spend six months with a T-tube, healing and learning to breathe through his mouth and nose, with multiple return trips to Cincinnati before his final decannulation trial.

As you can imagine, between the surgeries, accommodations, medical supplies, travel costs, and time off work, the expenses add up fast. Your donations will help Lauren and Mike handle the mounting costs while supporting Callan through his surgeries, recovery time, and all the ongoing care he'll need.

Your support will also give other families facing similar diagnoses something they desperately need: hope. When they're scared and don't know what's ahead, they'll have Callan's story to draw strength from. True to his name's meaning of 'brave in battle,' he's proof that even the smallest warriors can win the biggest fights.