The team at Holtz Children’s Hospital performed several medical miracles for young Ryder Furlong. Born at nearly 25 weeks, he weighed just 1 lb, 10 oz when he was immediately rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Holtz Children’s Hospital after being delivered at The Women’s Hospital at Jackson Memorial. He remained intubated for two months and had to overcome several medical setbacks, including pneumonia and brain bleeds, which caused him to have several seizures. Ryder was also diagnosed with a condition called Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA), an opening between the two major blood vessels leading from the heart that normally closes shortly after birth. “He had to overcome so many medical challenges that his medical team began calling him ‘Ryder The Fighter’,” says his father, Dr. Daniel Furlong. Last May, after spending 125 days in the NICU, Ryder was finally able to go home. He was spotlighted at the recent Jackson Health Foundation Luncheon held in honor of the late philanthropist Abel Holtz, which raised $736,000 for young patients in need; JacksonHealthFoundation.org.
