Children's Miracle Network

Ministry Saint Joseph's Children's Hospital

Jasmine Lobay

Jasmine Lobay

A bright-eyed, blonde little girl celebrated her third birthday on September 9, 2008, while just beginning the exciting world of pre-school. At 26 pounds and 32 inches, Jasmine Lobay of Marshfield is about half the size of her three-year-old classmates, but she tries her best to keep up.

This active, curious, creative and joyful child made her grand entrance to life at Saint Joseph’s Children’s Hospital (SJCH) weighing a mere one pound 3.5 ounces and was 11¾ inches long. She was delivered by c-section eleven weeks before her scheduled due date. Jasmine was immediately admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Her family lived in Houghton, Michigan at the time of Dawn’s pregnancy, but already aware of the complications they were referred to Saint Joseph’s Hospital. The Ronald McDonald House became their home away from home. Three months later, little Jasmine was finally released from the NICU. Her family took her home to Houghton and began to settle into a somewhat normal routine; as normal a routine can be when your precious new baby is on oxygen and attached to a monitor.

The following March, Jasmine and her family made a return trip to SJCH because her underdeveloped lungs were causing her heart to work harder. Due to the stress on her heart, her liver enlarged and she was hospitalized in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). After more than a week, Jasmine and her family returned home to Houghton.

She was on a pulse oximeter to monitor the oxygen levels in her blood and was doing well for four months. Then they started getting unusual readings. They took Jasmine to her local pediatrician and learned she was quite sick. Jasmine was airlifted back to SJCH and admitted to the PICU. This turned into a four month stay in the Hospital.

Jasmine had pneumonia and pulmonary hypertension and was placed on a ventilator to assist with her breathing. Four days later she had a tracheotomy and a G/J tube placed because she was not eating. Her parents decided they needed to relocate to Marshfield to properly attend to Jasmine’s ongoing medical needs. She was released from the PICU three days before Christmas. In the months that followed, Jasmine began to stabilize at home eliminating her need for medications, supplemental oxygen and eventually the ventilator.

Now, a few months short of being four years old, Jasmine can already claim an incredible life journey of miracles. Her developmental progress has been outstanding largely due to the loving, supportive attention given by her parents, Dawn Lobay and Donald Medeiros. “We are grateful for the exemplary care provided by the staff at Saint Joseph’s Children’s Hospital and the kindness of the staff at the Ronald McDonald House. There are still ongoing medical needs and obstacles to overcome, but Jasmine is truly an example of medical miracles,” says Dawn. Just give this little one a high five and you’ll see exactly what they mean in her sparkling eyes.

Patti Shafto-Carlson
Director of Development - Children's Services
cmn@ministryhealth.org