Support baby Callan Joseph's Fight for Life

My name is Jennifer Wells, and I’m reaching out to ask you to help support my dear friends, Jason, Katie and Nolan as they welcome Callan Joseph into the world.

Baby Callan was born on November 4, 2024 at 11:44 am, at 31 weeks. He was estimated to be 19 inches and 4.8 lbs. With a stack of miracles piled up behind him, he remains on life support. He has shown superhuman strength and continues to battle for his life every day.

The journey for Callan has been and will continue to be long and hard fought. After 5 years of fertility issues, including surgery for Katie, IVF for big brother Nolan, and a traumatic IVF pregnancy loss last summer that nearly took Katie's life, a little miracle was unknowingly in the works. On Mother's Day of this year, Jason and Katie found out they were unexpectedly expecting their sweet little Callan. This incredibly shocking news was welcomed by all and the excitement for him began to build.

On October 3rd, at 28 weeks along, Callan was diagnosed with a serious and rare growth called a cervical teratoma. The massive growth on his neck and in his chest cavity was messing with his tiny body. Due to the mass, he also had hydrops, polyhydramnios, and his little heart was strained. The mass was crushing his airway, giving him no way to breath on his own after birth. That very same day he was diagnosed, they left their home in Wichita, Kansas and headed for Mercy Children's Hospital, in Kansas City (3 hours away).

With daily appointments and testing, they began their stay at the Ronald McDonald house across the street from the hospital. Over the next month, they worked with the medical team to prepare for an EXIT (ex utero intrapartum treatment) procedure during his birth. The EXIT procedure was ultimately performed by a team of 57 medical professionals.

The EXIT procedure was successful, in that Katie was able to be his life support during the hour they needed to remove the tumor, secure an airway and get him on the ventilator and ECMO machine (life support for Callan’s heart and lungs). Callan spent the rest of his first day in the world undergoing lifesaving procedures before making his was to cardiac intensive care. Since then, his heart hasn't regained enough strength to come off the machines.

Each day, Katie, Jason, big brother Nolan and baby Callan navigate their way together to get through to the next day with all the love, hope and strength they can muster. We all remain hopeful that Callan will continue to defy the odds, and battle for his life. Grandma Ann, Papa Gus, and Callan’s godfather, Uncle Matt, have all been able to meet Callan and hold his hand.

The support of family and friends has been incredible for Callan and they are and will be forever grateful.

Many have expressed a desire to do more. With time off work, extra expenses and medical bills starting to roll in, if you are so inclined and able, please feel free to give a little to the family to help offset some of the many costs involved during this time.

Otherwise, prayers of love and strength for Callan Joseph will continue to be the best way to support them.