Jett’s Story

Site created on July 9, 2023

On May 20, 2023, Colleen and Nick welcomed their twin boys, Jett and Asher, into the world at 34 weeks! It was such a blessing for them as they had been trying to have a baby for 3 years. Asher had to spend 10 days in the NICU while Jett had an extended stay, leaving after 22 days. Colleen and Nick were so happy to finally welcome both of their boys home!

Fast-forward to this past Friday, July 7, 2023, when the unimaginable happened - they almost lost their baby boy, Jett. As they were getting the boys ready to head out the door, Jett aspirated in his car seat. Colleen noticed Jett’s crying abruptly stopped, so she went over to check on him. She yelled for Nick and what they saw was something no parent should ever see - Jett was ghost white/gray, his lips and hands were blue, and he was laying limp in the car seat with foamy blood coming out of his nose and mouth. Nick grabbed Jett from the car seat and performed chest compressions for the next 6 minutes on his lifeless body. Finally, after 6 minutes, Jett slowly came back to them. Paramedics showed up and rushed him to Levine’s Children’s Hospital where he coded twice.

The outlook for Jett was not great, and the doctors told Colleen and Nick to prepare for the worst because they didn’t believe he would make it through the next 24 hours. After the incredible work of the doctors, PAs, NPs and nursing staff, they were able to bring Jett to a critically stable state.

They are treating Jett for respiratory failure, and he is on a very intensive course of action. There have been some bumps along the road where he has crashed multiple times, but he finally appears to be slowly heading in the right direction. He will be on an intensive ventilator for at least a week, and then he will hopefully move to a conventional ventilator. The doctors have told Colleen and Nick that Jett’s road to recovery will be very long and arduous. He will be in the pediatric intensive care unit for at least 2 weeks followed by a respiratory rehabilitation center.

If you're able to support them in any way, please feel free to donate to their GoFundMe page (link found under the "Ways to Help" tab above).

We appreciate everyone's love, support, and kind words during this time, and are eternally grateful for the massive support system that Nick, Colleen, and the boys have. You all mean the world to us!

Other Ways to Support: They've also set up a Meal Train page where you can have meals delivered to them so it's one less thing to worry about (link found under the "Ways to Help" tab above as well).

Newest Update

Journal entry by Nicholas Sheehan

Hi everyone! 

I wanted to give an update about Jett. He’s been doing great! He’s acting like nothing ever happened haha. And that’s the best part…Jett will never remember that any of this ever happened. 

He’s putting on good weight. Starting to get some wrist rolls. His cheeks are starting to get a little pudgy too. He’s slowly catching up to his brother, Asher. 

The boys are 4 months, this week (9/20). 

Jett’s has a neurology appointment in October and a kidney appointment in December. He’s still on the seizure medication for now. Luckily, we haven’t seen any signs of seizures. 

He’s starting to show more and more of his personality. Jett is very very chatty. He’ll sit there looking at you and just talk. He and Asher appear to be starting their twin talk too. It’s really cute. 

As I’ve said in previous posts, Colleen and I can’t thank you all enough for the support (all forms). You helped us get through the hardest journey of our lives. And now, our son Jett, is a perfectly healthy baby, after numerous doctors, nurses and specialists told us he wasn’t going to make it. Hearing the candid takes by the nurses and doctors after Jett was out of the woods was really difficult, but that’s real life.  

Jett made it. And he’s doing really really well. And that’s all that matters. 

I asked you all, a few posts ago, that if you can take away anything from Jett’s journey, is that you learn CPR (adult and infant). Ever since that post, I have received numerous texts from friends who are hosting CPR classes in their homes and gyms. It makes me tear up thinking that you are learning that life saving technique. Hopefully, you’ll never have to use it. But if you ever find yourself in a situation where an adult, child, or baby needs it, you’ll be better equipped to save their lives. Thank you so much to those who have hosted and participated in that training. 

Note: I posted some pictures of Jett and Asher.  you 
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