Hi everyone!!!
Takeo Anthony Johnson was born 99 days before his expected due date, he was just 181 days into his 280 day gestation period.
Roosevelt II (Rosie) and Shannon waited years to add a second child to their family. Their first son, 7 year old Roosevelt III, aka Trey, had been begging for a sibling for so long and finally was going to get a little brother. They were all excited, and could hardly wait for May 10th, 2021 to meet their new baby boy.
It was Sunday morning, January 31st, 2021, Shannon started having contractions, at 25 weeks and 6 days and still in the 2nd trimester it was way too early to be in labor. She tried to convince herself it was just Braxton Hicks (false labor), however, the contractions persisted and were getting a little stronger throughout the morning. By early afternoon she reluctantly agreed to go to the hospital. Because of the hospital’s COVID-19 restrictions we knew Shannon was going to have to go in alone. Rosie drove to the hospital, and at about 2:15 pm he dropped her off at the front entrance, and waited in the parking lot. Shannon checked in at the front desk and a hospital security guard wheeled her up to the maternity triage unit. In less than an hour, hospital staff confirmed; she was in fact in labor, she was going to be admitted, and they were going to do everything possible to stop her labor.
Scared and alone, Shannon was finally given the green light to have Rosie join her. Shortly after joining that I got a call from Rosie and he stated he was told there was a 90% chance Shannon would deliver that day. As the doctors and nurses tried to navigate a path forward, everyone’s worst fear came true. Shannon’s water broke, and by 4:01 pm she gave birth to baby Takeo. Their micro-preemie baby weighed 1020 grams (2.2lbs), and was only 14 inches long. Imagine a diaper the size of a 3x3 post-it note and then imagine that little diaper being too big for his little body.
Life’s journey took us all on an unexpected detour that day. The emotional roller coaster that happens to families after the birth of an extremely premature baby is heartbreaking and gut wrenching. The plethora of emotions experienced daily comes in waves, from overwhelming love, hope, and happiness, to sadness, worry, and fear. We all know that each day is a blessing and a gift, we celebrate his tiny milestones today, and the next day we find ourselves praying he gets back to where he was the day before. Processing these emotions leaves everyone physically and emotionally exhausted. Shannon and Rosie spend countless hours rotating their time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and do their best to maintain a normal life for Trey. The good news is we believe for the most part Takeo is out of the woods, he is a strong little boy that has a strong will to live.
Takeo has been in the NICU since birth, he is receiving the best care possible, but it comes with a $3000.00 per day price tag. Potentially he could be there till his May 10th due date and could easily amass a $275,000 plus hospital bill. Their high deductible insurance that's affordable and perfect for healthy young families falls short for this life event. They planned and were saving for their deductibles and the expenses not covered by insurance but sadly not for these additional expenses. They fear the medical expenses coming could financially ruin them and they need our help.
Rosie and Shannon are proud people, asking for help from family and friends is not in their DNA. And this is why I, Shannon’s mom, Rosie’s mother-in-law, and Trey and Takeo’s, Nani, decided to organize this GoFundMe. I am reaching out to our family and friends and am calling on our village to help them with their medical expenses, and the added expense of their daily travels to and from the hospital.
I humbly thank you all in advance, any amount will be greatly appreciated!
Please fell free to share their story.
The picture below was taken 19 days after Takeo's birth. This was the first time Shannon and Rosie were able to be together in the NICU at the same time.
Takeo Anthony Johnson was born 99 days before his expected due date, he was just 181 days into his 280 day gestation period.
Roosevelt II (Rosie) and Shannon waited years to add a second child to their family. Their first son, 7 year old Roosevelt III, aka Trey, had been begging for a sibling for so long and finally was going to get a little brother. They were all excited, and could hardly wait for May 10th, 2021 to meet their new baby boy.
It was Sunday morning, January 31st, 2021, Shannon started having contractions, at 25 weeks and 6 days and still in the 2nd trimester it was way too early to be in labor. She tried to convince herself it was just Braxton Hicks (false labor), however, the contractions persisted and were getting a little stronger throughout the morning. By early afternoon she reluctantly agreed to go to the hospital. Because of the hospital’s COVID-19 restrictions we knew Shannon was going to have to go in alone. Rosie drove to the hospital, and at about 2:15 pm he dropped her off at the front entrance, and waited in the parking lot. Shannon checked in at the front desk and a hospital security guard wheeled her up to the maternity triage unit. In less than an hour, hospital staff confirmed; she was in fact in labor, she was going to be admitted, and they were going to do everything possible to stop her labor.
Scared and alone, Shannon was finally given the green light to have Rosie join her. Shortly after joining that I got a call from Rosie and he stated he was told there was a 90% chance Shannon would deliver that day. As the doctors and nurses tried to navigate a path forward, everyone’s worst fear came true. Shannon’s water broke, and by 4:01 pm she gave birth to baby Takeo. Their micro-preemie baby weighed 1020 grams (2.2lbs), and was only 14 inches long. Imagine a diaper the size of a 3x3 post-it note and then imagine that little diaper being too big for his little body.
Life’s journey took us all on an unexpected detour that day. The emotional roller coaster that happens to families after the birth of an extremely premature baby is heartbreaking and gut wrenching. The plethora of emotions experienced daily comes in waves, from overwhelming love, hope, and happiness, to sadness, worry, and fear. We all know that each day is a blessing and a gift, we celebrate his tiny milestones today, and the next day we find ourselves praying he gets back to where he was the day before. Processing these emotions leaves everyone physically and emotionally exhausted. Shannon and Rosie spend countless hours rotating their time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and do their best to maintain a normal life for Trey. The good news is we believe for the most part Takeo is out of the woods, he is a strong little boy that has a strong will to live.
Takeo has been in the NICU since birth, he is receiving the best care possible, but it comes with a $3000.00 per day price tag. Potentially he could be there till his May 10th due date and could easily amass a $275,000 plus hospital bill. Their high deductible insurance that's affordable and perfect for healthy young families falls short for this life event. They planned and were saving for their deductibles and the expenses not covered by insurance but sadly not for these additional expenses. They fear the medical expenses coming could financially ruin them and they need our help.
Rosie and Shannon are proud people, asking for help from family and friends is not in their DNA. And this is why I, Shannon’s mom, Rosie’s mother-in-law, and Trey and Takeo’s, Nani, decided to organize this GoFundMe. I am reaching out to our family and friends and am calling on our village to help them with their medical expenses, and the added expense of their daily travels to and from the hospital.
I humbly thank you all in advance, any amount will be greatly appreciated!
Please fell free to share their story.
The picture below was taken 19 days after Takeo's birth. This was the first time Shannon and Rosie were able to be together in the NICU at the same time.
Organizer and beneficiary
Shannon Starr
Beneficiary