Forgoing a typical birth plan, Jim and Vanessa Cody stayed at Children’s Minnesota for two months while they watched their son Harrison go through challenge after challenge. Harrison is now 2 years old and living his life to the fullest.
Harrison’s first two days
About six weeks before Harrison’s original due date, Vanessa checked into The Mother Baby Center, a partnership between Allina Health and Children’s Minnesota, after her water broke. Because Harrison was premature, they stayed for observation for several weeks. Two weeks into their stay she developed a fever. Harrison’s heart rate was increasing at a concerning rate, resulting in an emergency C-section. On Aug. 14, 2022, Harrison was born.
But Harrison wasn’t breathing. The Children’s Minnesota neonatology team quickly intubated him. Among his care team was Dr. Dany Villacis, neonatologist at Children’s Minnesota. “Harrison had a complex case,” Dr. Villacis recalls. “There is a really high mortality rate for the conditions Harrison had.”
Harrison was put on a ventilator to help him breathe and became stable for the first few hours of his life. However, things quickly took a turn for the worse. It was clear Harrison was struggling to stay alive, and the family wasn’t sure if he would make it. Jim and Vanessa had Harrison baptized at 3 a.m. that night.
“That night we sat by his side and watched his monitors,” said Jim. “We’d watch his blood oxygen saturation levels drop and then he’d fight, trying to get them back up to acceptable levels. It was just a roller coaster. Up and down, and up and down.”
Around 12 hours into Harrison’s life, they received the results of a blood culture and discovered Harrison had an antibiotic-resistant E. coli infection. He was quickly put on an antibiotic to help fight the infection.
“He had beautiful skin when he was delivered, but throughout the night, we watched him turn from pink to red to purple, eventually to black,” Jim said. “We watched it creep up his feet, up his legs, his fingers and his arms. It was absolutely terrifying to watch.”
Things seemed to be taking a turn for the worse, but then the antibiotic quickly kicked in and Harrison finally stabilized after a grueling two days.
Harrison’s first week
In the days following Harrison’s miraculous stabilization, Jim and Vanessa started to learn of the toll these complications took on Harrison’s body. His spleen had disintegrated, and he was later diagnosed with a ventricular brain bleed.
“Initially, we knew of some renal hemorrhaging, and within a week we knew there was some bleeding in the brain,” Jim said. “Then, we were told about the potential of him having cerebral palsy in the future. Eventually, we knew he was going to make it through this, but then the focus turns into, ‘What kind of life will he have with all the damage he’s gone through?’”
Dr. Kyle Halvorson, pediatric neurosurgeon at Children’s Minnesota, joined Harrison’s care team within the first week of life. He identified that Harrison developed a condition called hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid in the brain, which, when untreated, can lead to severe brain damage.
Dr. Halvorson was able to temporarily relieve the increased intracranial pressure when Harrison was 1 month old, but ultimately had to delay surgery until the E. coli infection was taken care of. At 2 months of age, Harrison needed surgery to have a shunt, a device that drains cerebrospinal fluid to relieve increased pressure, put in.
Harrison’s support team
Jim and Vanessa credit both their families and Children’s Minnesota staff for helping them get through one of the toughest times in their lives. With one other kid at home, Jim and Vanessa’s families stepped up in a big way.
“Our daughter had never spent a night away from us,” Jim said. “She was 2 at the time and had never spent the night outside of our bedroom. Suddenly, she was staying with my parents, my sister, Vanessa’s parents. That was quite a change for her. Our families have been amazing.”
In addition to familial support, Jim and Vanessa expressed endless gratitude to their care team.
“Our nurses were incredible. Lisa Petrangelo [a nurse at Children’s Minnesota], was our rock. We were lucky enough to have her just about every night in the first few weeks of Harry’s life,” said Jim. “She was incredible. She fiercely defended Harry and she’ll forever be in our hearts. I’ll never forget her.”
Jim also credits Children’s Minnesota for how well Harrison is doing today. “[Harrison] is doing so well, and I consider it a credit to the staff at Children’s [Minnesota],” Jim said. “We went through the fire with those doctors. We’re so grateful for them.”
Harrison beats the odds
Harrison has since made some exciting breakthroughs. He opened his eyes for the first time at 1 month old. A few weeks later, Harrison took his first breath without breathing support. On Oct. 19, 2022, at 2 months old, Harrison got to go home for the first time.
“He continues to hit milestone after milestone,” Jim said. “It’s been incredible to look at him now. Unless you feel his head and feel the shunt, you wouldn’t know everything he’s gone through because he’s doing so well.”
Harrison, now a healthy 2-year-old, is a big fan of garbage trucks, reckless behavior and copying his big sister.
“Unfortunately, he loves jumping off of things. Fortunately, no significant injuries, but it’s a blessing and a curse. He has no sense of self-preservation, which makes me terrified. He’s a very active young boy,” Jim said. “I’m just so thankful.”
