Jackson Chance Foundation

This week is Global Tracheostomy Awareness Week, and we want to shine a light on what life looks like for some of the tiniest NICU patients in the Jackson Chance family. A tracheostomy — a small opening in the windpipe to help a baby breathe — is one of the most common procedures for infants in the NICU, often due to chronic lung disease or airway complications from premature birth.

What many people don’t realize is that these babies often go home still needing their trach, and it’s their parents who become their primary caregivers. That means moms and dads spend weeks at the bedside learning to suction airways, change trach tubes, and operate ventilators — trained and guided by NICU nurses and respiratory therapists. They’re not just parents. They’re part of their child’s medical care team.

For Haley and Greg, that’s exactly what their family’s journey looked like. Their daughter Eleanor spent 136 days in the NICU, and despite living an hour away in the suburbs, they were able to be there most days — receiving regular, in-depth training on Eleanor’s trach care and complex medical needs so they could be fully prepared to bring her home safely.

That kind of consistent presence doesn’t happen by accident. It’s why Jackson Chance Foundation’s parking programming exists. When you’re learning the skills that will keep your baby thriving at home, missing a day isn’t an option. No parent should have to choose between the cost of parking and being at their child’s bedside. We remove that barrier — completely, for every NICU family at our partner hospitals, for the entire stay — so parents can focus on what matters most: being with their child. 💛

Family:

Jackson Chance Meghie spent nearly his entire ten month life in the NICU. His parents - JCF’s Founders Carrie and Terry - were there for Jackson, every single day. They quickly realized the high parking cost associated with doing so. They also learned that not every family had that same capability due to financial restraints, after speaking to staff and seeing babies on their own in the NICU.

Hospital parking in downtown metropolitan areas like Chicago can average $15-25 per visit, and quickly rises to $75/day when Mom and Dad visit several times a day - before work, during lunch, to be there for key procedures, to say goodnight or be there for night feedings. For many NICU stays that can stretch weeks or months, that’s thousands of dollars standing between a parent and their baby’s bedside.

That’s the problem Jackson Chance Foundation was built to solve. Since its founding in 2013, JCF has provided cost-free parking to every NICU family at our Chicago-area partner hospitals — no application, no income screening, no exceptions. Lurie Children’s since 2013, Northwestern Prentice Women’s since 2017, and Rush Children’s since 2020. Since 2013, we have provided over 950,000 days of complimentary parking for Chicago’s NICU families.

Jackson’s life shaped our mission. His legacy keeps families together.

Did you know that your gift of $300 provides a family with one month of unlimited parking access, so parents can worry about one less barrier, and instead focus on supporting their critically-ill child? We would love to have you join in and support our mission today, paving the path for future NICU families in need. Jacksonchance.org/donate

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𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟮 | 𝗞𝗼𝗮’𝘀 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗲 💙 happy birthday week 🎂

After 3 episodes of stopped breathing, Koa was transferred from Rush Children’s to Lurie, where things got harder before they got better.

Sarah (Mom) shared he developed a fever, sepsis, and was going into heart failure. Testing revealed Koa had severe Pulmonary Hypertension, which had been contributing to his respiratory distress since birth. The focus became building a treatment plan.

At 4 months old, Koa had a trach and g-tube placed. Slowly, steadily, he began to thrive. After 9 months between hospitals, he was finally ready to come home.

Looking back, it was a hand on his chest. A finger wrapped in his tiny grip. His big sister pressed close, letting him know she was there. Mom and dad, every single day, showing up.

That was a choice the Hargrove family made over and over again - driving 1 to 2 hours one way from the suburbs, working full time, raising a 4-year-old, and still finding a way, because Koa needed to feel them there.

Research tells us what NICU families already know: that a parent’s touch, voice, and presence is medicine. It regulates. It heals. It tells a baby fighting for their life that they are not alone.

“Our time in the NICU was full of fears, unknowns and impossible decisions,” Sarah shared. “But to not have to choose when we were able to see our son due to parking costs was such a gift. We were able to see Koa every day and allow him and his sister to bond and share in this journey together.”

Parking at each hospital ran $12–$20 a visit. Some days, multiple trips. Nine months of long days and late nights. Thanks to Jackson Chance Foundation’s NICU parking program, there was no calculating. Just showing up.

Sarah believes that being present — to advocate, to lay a hand on their son every single day — made all the difference in bringing Koa home.

For just $300 a month, you can make that kind of presence possible for another family. Another baby who needs a hand to hold. Link in bio. 💙