Logan’s Heroes


On Tuesday, February 26, 2019 the Bankus Family of four, became a party of five. After three weeks of hospital bed rest, Melanie was told by her doctor that it was time to deliver via c-section due to her risk of seizure/stroke from severe preeclampsia and Logan’s decelerating heart rate. At 29 weeks Logan was born weighing 1 pound 8 ounces, and 11.5 inches long. He had IUGR (Intrauterine Growth Restriction), which meant that the placenta was not properly passing enough nutrients and oxygen to his body in the womb.

That night was one of the happiest, yet scariest, days of Melanie and Josh’s lives. Everything seemed to be going ok until Friday, March 1, 2019 when there was an emergency situation and Logan had to be transferred to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Those first few weeks at CHOP were very critical for Logan and a big blur for both Mel and Josh.

The past 4.5 months have been extremely stressful on the family as Mel and Josh have been juggling life at home with their two older daughters and spending time with Logan in Philadelphia, which is 2 hours away. The Ronald McDonald House of Philadelphia has been a God-sent and they will be forever grateful for their hospitality.

During the past few months, Logan has remained on a ventilator. He has failed five extubations, which often resulted in code blue events. Logan has recently been diagnosed with level 2/3 subglottic stenosis (80% closing of upper airway) and will require surgery to perform a tracheostomy to help him breath and a g-tube to help with his feeds. The doctors are hopeful that the trach tube will only be needed for 2-3 years and then, if necessary, Logan will undergo airway reconstruction surgery.

This brings me to the reason why we are creating this page for the family. Up to this point, when Mel and Josh have been asked, “What can we do to help?” they responded with, “Nothing, please just send Logan love and prayers; he needs them.” They are so grateful for all of the cards, gifts, help, and donations that have already been collected and will always remember the kind people in their lives during this difficult time.

With the news of Logan needing a trach tube, there are many things they must do in their home to prepare for his homecoming. They will need to purchase a home generator (costs will include the price of the generator plus electrical work/installation/set-up, gas contract and maintenance) to make sure his oxygen will always be available to him, even during power outages. They will also need to create a makeshift bedroom for him in their living room, as well as making sure there is ample space and organization for his medical equipment.

They need our help at this time, so anything you can donate would be greatly appreciated. Let’s pull together to help this tiny miracle have a safe place to come home to.