Meet Landry: When Every Breath Matters: Landry’s Story of Hope After HIE

There are moments in life when joy and fear collide so suddenly, you don’t even realize what’s happening until you’re standing inside it.

For Landry’s parents, that moment came the instant she entered the world.

After a long, exhausting labor, they were ready for the cry every parent waits for—the sound that signals relief, life, and the beginning of everything they’d dreamed of.

But Landry didn’t cry.

She wasn’t breathing.

What should have been a moment of celebration became a moment of sheer terror.

Doctors moved quickly. Hands worked with urgency. Time stretched in ways no parent is prepared for. Landry was resuscitated, but it soon became clear she had suffered a lack of oxygen at birth. The diagnosis came swiftly and heavily: Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)—a serious brain injury caused by oxygen deprivation.

Within hours of her birth, Landry was placed in a helicopter and airlifted to receive a critical, time-sensitive cooling treatment—one designed to protect her brain and give her the best possible chance at recovery.

Her parents watched as their newborn disappeared into the sky, their hearts following close behind.

72 Hours That Changed Everything

For the next 72 hours, Landry remained sedated and cooled to just 91 degrees.

This treatment—known as therapeutic hypothermia—is often the best hope for babies diagnosed with HIE. It slows brain activity, reduces swelling, and can limit long-term damage. But for parents, it is an exercise in helplessness.

They could touch her skin.

They could whisper her name.

They could pray.

And that was it.

Machines breathed for her. Monitors told stories her parents were still learning how to understand. Every beep carried meaning. Every pause felt endless.

Those days were filled with waiting—the kind of waiting that stretches time thin. Waiting for scans. Waiting for updates. Waiting to see if seizures would come. Waiting to know if their daughter would survive… and if she did, what her future might hold.

Landry experienced a few small seizures during treatment—moments that sent waves of fear through an already fragile space. But even then, she showed strength. She responded well. Her body did what it needed to do. When the cooling period ended and doctors began warming her slowly, hope quietly returned to the room.

The words her parents heard next would stay with them forever.

“This is one of the best outcomes we’ve seen.”

Ten Days in the NICU—and a Lifetime Ahead

After ten long days in the NICU, Landry finally went home.

Ten days may not sound like much to those who haven’t lived inside a hospital room—but to parents holding their breath for answers, it can feel like a lifetime.

Going home didn’t mean the journey was over. It meant the next chapter was beginning.

Today, Landry continues to grow and thrive with the support of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and early intervention services. Each appointment, each milestone, each small victory is a reminder of how far she has come—and how close everything once felt to slipping away.

Her parents remain endlessly grateful.

Grateful for the doctors and nurses who acted without hesitation. Grateful for medical advances that made healing possible. Grateful for every bit of progress Landry continues to make. Grateful for the chance to focus on her health and her future—not just survival.

Landry’s story is one of hope. But it is also a reminder of how quickly life can change—and how much support families need when it does.

The Hidden Weight Families Carry After a Medical Crisis

When a baby faces a life-threatening diagnosis, no parent is thinking about money.

They are thinking about breaths. About scans. About whether their child will be able to sit, walk, speak, or laugh.

But once the emergency passes, reality returns in quieter ways. Hospital bills arrive. Therapy appointments multiply. Travel costs, missed work, specialized care, and long-term support begin to stack up.

Insurance helps—but it rarely covers everything.

Families like Landry’s often find themselves navigating not just medical recovery, but financial strain at the same time. It’s an added weight no one prepares you for, and one that can make an already overwhelming journey feel impossible.

This is where The B.A.B.Y. Foundation steps in.

How The B.A.B.Y. Foundation Supports Families Like Landry’s

The B.A.B.Y. Foundation exists to fill the gap between what insurance covers and what families truly need when their child faces a medical crisis.

That support may look different for every family, but the heart behind it is the same:

To offer stability when everything feels uncertain.

To provide relief when families are stretched thin.

To allow parents to focus on care—not costs.

Every dollar given to The B.A.B.Y. Foundation stays in Northern Colorado, supporting families right here in our community—families who are sitting in NICU rooms, therapy waiting areas, and hospital hallways just like Landry’s parents once did.

The foundation doesn’t just support recovery—it supports dignity, peace of mind, and hope during life’s most fragile moments.

Your Support Makes a Difference

When you give to The B.A.B.Y. Foundation, you are giving more than financial assistance.

You are permitting parents to breathe. You are giving families space to heal. You are giving children like Landry the stability they need to grow and thrive.

Because no family should have to face a medical crisis alone—and no parent should have to choose between their child’s health and their family’s future.

The B.A.B.Y. Foundation is here to help families breathe a little easier when it matters most.

Learn more or apply for assistance at www.thebabyfoundation.org.

Because when a child is fighting for their health, no family should have to fight alone.

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