Within days of adopting little Harrison in August, Shannon Newby said it became clear that his heart-related medical issues were more serious than her family realized.
“I would say our motto has been ‘God willing’ for the last six months,” she told Scope News. “We have had so many ups and downs. Palliative care and I discussed how many close calls we had during this stay. He’s definitely been a miracle child.”
Forty-eight hours after he arrived at their home, paramedics were there to save his life before he was transported to Brenner Children’s Hospital in Winston-Salem. The situation deteriorated from there and Harrison was soon airlifted to Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte.
“When I called 911 on August 3, the Union Cross Fire Department arrived first,” Newby recalled. “EMS came next. I remember three men and chose one to hand my child to. His oxygen rate was 52. He was blue. It was a mom’s worst nightmare.”
Through all the uncertainty, she said the community has continued to show its support.
“The firefighter I handed [Harrison] to has found us and followed our story,” she said. “His wife actually found us first on Facebook when I posted the story. The Greensboro Down Syndrome Association sent us a $100 gift card when we were first admitted. Other folks have donated when they can.”
As the family has learned about the care Harrison will require, however, Newby said that it is clear his “needs are greater than we would have ever anticipated.”
A GoFundMe campaign is currently collecting donations, with more than $3,000 raised toward a $13,000 goal as of this writing. Click here to donate or find out more about Harrison’s medical journey.
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