Born at just 25 weeks and weighing only 2 pounds and 1 ounce, Jaxon spent 125 days in the NICU at MemorialCare Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital. Those early months were filled with uncertainty including three surgeries, multiple bouts of sepsis, and countless life-threatening moments. Through it all, his parents remained by his side, calling the Ronald McDonald House® Long Beach their home for four months.
On March 29, 2022, following a final surgery to repair three hernias, Jaxon was discharged and finally able to return home. Today, he’s a bright, funny, and talkative 4½-year-old with a heart full of love and a smile that brightens every room.
Grateful for the support they once received, Jaxon and his family are now giving back. In honor of what would have been the birthday of Jaxon’s older brothers, Kayson and Kaleb, identical twins who passed away in the NICU in 2020, the Lesa family has chosen to offer that same sense of comfort and hope to families walking through the same path. They’ve provided hot meals, gifted the beautifully hopeful book The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin, and shared heartfelt words to families navigating the NICU.
Their act of compassion is a powerful reminder that even in the darkest times, love, hope, and community can shine through.
