FSU Kickoff Kid

Maddox Deusinger

Three-year-old Maddox has battled respiratory infections since he was an infant, requiring him to be hospitalized several times at the Tallahassee Memorial Children’s Center, where he received oxygen and 24/7 care while his lungs healed.

Maddox’s family is working with pediatric pulmonary specialists to determine the cause of his respiratory issues. In addition to breathing treatments, he often wears an AffloVest that helps clear mucus in his lungs.

Maddox is a happy little boy and loves to spend time with his grandparents, have outdoor adventures on his motorized tractor, and play with trains and dinosaurs. His favorite color is blue (like Thomas the Train) and he wishes he could run “super-fast” just like Flash.

Jude Harper

In January 2020, Jude was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and hospitalized at the Tallahassee Memorial Children’s Centerfor three days. Thanks to Jude’s care team, he and his mother learned all about Type 1 diabetes and how to manage it, including how to give injections, count carbohydrates and monitor blood sugar.

Jude’s mother is thankful for the support they received at the Children’s Center as he and his family navigated his new diagnosis. Now, Jude effectively manages his diabetes and visits TMH Physician Partners – Endocrinology, Diabetes & Obesity every three months to be seen by Fabiola de los Angeles D’Ambrosio Rodriquez, MD, Amy Jacobs, RDN, LDN, CDCES and Kim Pichard, RN, BSN, CDCES.

Now in middle school in Thomas County Middle, Jude is excited to play football and soccer competitively. He doesn’t let diabetes get in the way of the things he loves – golfing, fishing and playing video games! He's thinking of following in his dad's footsteps and becoming a firefighter when he's older.

Cooper Ferguson

At 24 weeks along in her pregnancy, Sheyla Ferguson’s water broke, and she was admitted to the Antenatal Care Unit (ACU) at the Tallahassee Memorial Alexander D. Brickler Women’s Pavilion. Within a week, her premature son was born and went straight the Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). 

Sheyla named her son Cooper McKinnie Ferguson after Vikki McKinnie, MD, her obstetrician at North Florida Women’s Care, whom she credits for saving his life during delivery. 

In his 103 days in the NICU, Cooper had several blood transfusions and procedures to save his life for a meningitis infection. 

Sheyla remains grateful for the compassionate NICU team that surrounded her family during Cooper’s stay. While there, the team educated his family about caring for a NICU baby and provided emotional and psychological support. After nearly three and a half months in the NICU, Cooper was able to go home with oxygen support.

As a fifth grader at Marianna K-8 School, Cooper loves all sports – flag football, soccer, baseball and basketball! His favorite subject in school is PE, but he dreams of the day he can make it big as a Gaming YouTuber.

Fisher Yaney

In November 2018, Emily Yaney delivered her son, Fisher, at the Tallahassee Memorial Alexander D. Brickler, MD, Women’s Pavilion. During delivery, shoulder dystocia occurred where Fisher’s shoulder got stuck in Emily’s pelvis, causing his lung to collapse. Thankfully, Emily was at the region’s only high-risk Labor & Delivery Unit and Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where Fisher received a chest tube and was intubated. 

After 8 days in the NICU, Fisher graduated and went home. As a baby, Fisher started having respiratory infections and was admitted to the Tallahassee Memorial Children’s Center. A few months later, he was admitted again for low blood sugar. During his hospitalization, Fisher was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease, a condition where the mitochondria in your cells is affected, making it difficult to produce the energy your body needs. This can affect almost any part of your body, including the respiratory system. 

Fisher is now in kindergarten at Shadeville Elementary and is a happy five-year-old who sees a specialist to manage his mitochondrial disease. Fisher lives up to his name and is obsessed with fishing, being outside and nature. He also loves playing video games such as Minecraft and Roblox. 

Lauren and Bruce Baker

Katye Baker went into labor with her first child, Lauren, when she was only 24 weeks along in her pregnancy. At birth, Lauren was tiny, weighing only 1 lb., 2 oz., and was rushed to TMH’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – the only one in the region. While in the NICU, Lauren received a blood transfusion, antibiotic treatments, a feeding tube and oxygen support. Lauren was also born with a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), a congenital heart defect that causes a small hole in the heart. Lauren was able to graduate from the NICU after a four-month stay and went on to receive physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy at Tallahassee Memorial Pediatric Outpatient Rehabilitation Center. A year after graduating from the NICU, Lauren also had surgery to close the PDA opening.

Less than two years after Lauren was born, Katye found herself back in the NICU with her second child, Bruce. Like Lauren, Bruce was born when Katye was only 24 weeks along in her pregnancy. Bruce weighed 1 lb., 9 oz. at birth and was cared for in the Level III NICU as well. He received numerous antibiotic treatments, a feeding tube, blood transfusions and oxygen support. Following in big sister’s footsteps, Bruce graduated the NICU after about four months.

Lauren is currently in fifth grade and Bruce is in fourth at Tallahassee School of Math and Science. Lauren hopes to be an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor one day. She is very creative, loves making bracelets, coloring and drawing, using her favorite color – baby blue.

Bruce is a green belt in taekwondo and loves saying his “secret weapon” is his feet. Lauren, Bruce and their family will be celebrating Bruce’s 10th birthday at the FSU vs. Charleston Southern game. His favorite color is FSU garnet and can’t wait to celebrate his birthday with the Noles!  
 

Fletcher Fato

When he was six months old, Fletcher's mom, Joanna Fato, noticed a twitching in her son's eye. As a Registered Nurse at TMH, Joanna knew to mention this to Fletcher’s pediatrician. Fletcher then had an MRI scan at TMH and was diagnosed with a hypothalamic pilocytic astrocytoma brain tumor. This type of brain tumor grows in the hypothalamus and chiasmatic region of the brain, which regulate a number of bodily functions. 

During his treatment, he also had a stroke, leaving his left side weak and requiring physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy at Tallahassee Memorial Pediatric Outpatient Rehabilitation Center. In physical therapy, he worked on sitting up, crawling, walking, and running. Due to limited use of his left hand, Fletcher continues to work with his occupational therapist, Amber Dodson, OTR/L, Lead Therapist, on learning how to button, zipper and develop skills for his everyday life. 

Fletcher is currently in second grade at Rose Academy and in remission! He loves football, baseball and playing with his siblings. If he could be any superhero, he would choose to be Spiderman and swing from webs throughout Tallahassee. He’s excited to wear his favorite colors, FSU Garnet and Gold and cheer on the Seminoles!