When Jen Smith was pregnant with Ross, she began getting symptoms of pre-eclampsia at about 28 weeks along. Her pregnancy was very high risk and the goal was to try to keep Ross in the womb as long as possible. Lung development for Ross was the biggest issue and Jen was given a “magic drug” at 48hrs and 24hrs before her scheduled C-Section to help aid Ross in the progress of his lung development.
Ross was born one month early on December 1st, 2010. At the beginning he struggled to breathe and was taken to the NICU at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. For the first two days of his life, Ross needed to be on oxygen and Jen and her husband were unable to hold him. His lungs weren’t able to inflate enough to get the oxygen that he needed. Had Jen not received her “magic drug” before Ross was born, his birth and condition would have been absolutely devastating. Ross continues to grow and and is doing well now!
