Michael Jr.'s Story

When Michael Brown Jr. was born in 2019, he weighed less than three-and-a-half pounds. After spending weeks in the NICU, Michael Jr. was transferred to MWPH for continuing care.

While Michael Jr. was at MWPH, neonatologist Bernadette Hillman, MD, began to be concerned about his breathing. The team considered a tracheostomy but decided to conduct more extensive testing before taking that step. A night in the sleep lab revealed that Michael Jr. had severe obstructive sleep apnea, which was causing his airway to be blocked as he slept. Left untreated, this condition could have been deadly.

Instead, Michael Jr. received treatment for his sleep apnea, enabling him to breathe throughout the night and continue to grow and develop. He spent a total of four-and-a-half months at MWPH where, thanks to our hospital’s personalized, expert care, he was able to avoid life-altering options like a trach and a g-tube. 

Today, Michael Jr. is an energetic 2-and-a-half-year-old boy who loves to ride his bike, knows how to play “Baby Shark” on his tablet, and says new words each day. He continues to participate in outpatient physical and speech therapy and is, according to mom Nicole, “running around like a normal toddler. He’s awesome.”