His nickname is awesome and it goes with his personality too! 'Mighty Micah', whose real name is Micah Read is a thriving, growing five year old boy who loves to play superheroes, fish with his dad, roughhouse and play with his baby brother Jonah all the time. Micah earned that special nickname from the doctors and nurses in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) at Christus Mother Frances Hospital. Micah has a very special story and is a Miracle Child and had benefited directly from previous support of the Childrean's Miracle Network.

Little Micah Read has overcome many obstacles in his short life. On July 31, 2012, he was born weighing just 2 lbs. 4 oz and was only 14.25” long, arriving a full 14 weeks early. Micah was the first micro preemie born at 26 weeks gestation to be born and admitted to stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Mother Frances Hospital. During his combined 94-day stay in the Level III NICU at Mother Frances Hospital, plus an additional 11 day stay at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, Micah’s care was coordinated by a team of specialists, and led by neonatologist, Dr. Brenda Morris, medical director of the NICU.

Micah was very strong and such a fighter from the beginning of his stay in the NICU, thus earning the name “Mighty Micah.” From day one, the doctors and nurses were very straightforward and compassionate about Micah’s situation with his parents, Jamye and Royce. Sonograms, x-rays, echocardiograms, blood transfusions, ultrasounds, IVs, a feeding tube, ventilator support, heart surgery, eye procedures, learning how to drink from a bottle, and so much more would all be a part of Micah’s long and sometimes difficult NICU journey.

At seven weeks old, Micah developed Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) in his eyes. This is a very serious condition that occurs when the blood vessels of the retina do not develop correctly. According to Dr. Ming Lu, Trinity Clinic’s ophthalmology retina specialist, ROP is the primary cause of blindness in premature babies. After several weeks of monitoring his eyes, Dr. Lu treated Micah with Avastin, a promising new therapy, and he responded very well. This was the first time that this treatment was administered at Trinity Mother Frances. Micah also had a corrective heart surgery at Children’s Medical Center and is seen by other pediatric specialists that come to Trinity Mother Frances weekly for their specialty clinics.

To cope during their son’s stay in the NICU, Micah’s parents, Jamye and Royce, expressed their fears daily, rejoiced in every one of his victories, and relied on their faith of trusting God to see them through each day. They also put their faith in the doctors and nurses at Trinity Mother Frances caring for their son. “Not only did they take care of Micah, they took care of us,” states Jamye Read.

Today, Mighty Micah is a very happy, healthy baby and proof that miracles happen every day! “Micah and his family are very special to the NICU staff. It’s very rewarding to see our tiniest patients come so far,” says Dr. Tiffany Taylor, neonatologist.

You can help East Texas children like Micah Read by supporting Children’s Miracle Network. One hundred percent of the funds raised locally for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals stay right here at Christus Trinity Mother Frances to provide life-saving pediatric equipment and medical services to children in our area.

Make your pledge today to support the Children's Miracle Network, call 903.531.5437 or toll free 800.692.5437.

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