A Dallas Family’s Story of Hope, Healing and a Very Special First Birthday

When Asher was born on October 1, 2024, his family’s world changed in an instant. A severe birth injury led to oxygen deprivation, a condition called hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and kidney failure.

Asher was admitted to the NICU, where for the next three and a half months, his tiny body fought through continuous dialysis and countless challenges, some requiring periods of time on a ventilator. In those early days, breastfeeding wasn’t possible. Although his mother, Natalie, pumped seven times a day, her milk supply gradually diminished. 

In January, Asher transitioned to peritoneal dialysis, which utilizes fluid in the abdomen to filter waste. At that point, severe reflux was restricting his growth, which fell significantly below the percentile range for his age. The only milk he would willingly drink was Natalie’s breastmilk, which wasn’t enough to meet his needs. A G-tube was inserted into his abdomen, which delivered the majority of his nutrition. 

February brought a milestone: Asher was finally well enough to leave the hospital. That’s when the family learned about the outpatient program at Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas. Like many North Texas babies at home with a medical need, Asher began receiving pasteurized donor milk by prescription. 

The impact was remarkable. Gradually, Asher’s reflux eased. He began gaining weight and staying on his growth curve. Today, he doesn’t need any reflux medication, down from four different prescriptions at one point.

Natalie shares, “Waking up to an alarm every two hours while my son was intubated, pushing myself to pump when I didn’t know what the future held for him, and barely producing breastmilk - those were some of the hardest moments of my life. Donor milk nurtured my son and helped get him to where he is today. We will always be grateful to the selfless act each donor makes when they choose to give.”

Asher’s recent first birthday marked a year of recovery from his birth injury, and his parents are celebrating how far he’s come. Their cherished little boy is growing stronger every day.