CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Little baby Jackson Wilson, born with a heart defect, has peacefully gone on to the next journey, his parents confirmed Tuesday.
Jackson, almost 7 months old, spent much of his life at the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville, with his family close by his side — and recently, with the support of thousands who prayed Jackson would get a new heart in time.
Jackson was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, which means the left side of his heart was underdeveloped and did not function correctly.
At 19 weeks, an ultrasound and analysis revealed that Jackson had a heart problem.
A problem so serious, doctors said, he might not make it. He entered the world weighing seven pounds.
Little Jackson survived two heart surgeries, the first when he was just four days old. Then at three and half months, he faced his second heart surgery.
He spent months hooked up to seven different machines that provided medicine, along with a chest tube.
His family had hoped for a new heart.
On Sunday, his mother Madison Hayes posted an update on a Facebook page that is followed by thousands of well-wishers offering prayers.
She said they consulted with a cardiologist and decided Jackson could not face another open heart surgery, having been through “way, way, way” too much.
Baby Jackson with his family
The doctors were watching Jackson’s antibodies, which were running high.
Jackson’s body would reject most donors if his antibodies remained high.
“If not, we will discuss doing just the plasma-foresees (blood cleaning) or just letting him choose his time to go and go peacefully,” Hayes said on Sunday, Dec. 7.
The family said they hoped for a Christmas miracle.
Though that did not come, they did share some tender last moments and smiles with Jackson.
