Aida Fernandez

Great-grandmother Aida Fernandez donated $900 in August 2009 as a way to thank The Children’s Hospital and its providers for the care of her great-grandson Josiah Baca. Seven-month-old Josiah has severe reflux and was hospitalized most recently for an intestinal bacterial infection. It is the second time Josiah has been at Children’s since he was born last March.

“This is a very great hospital. The doctors are amazing,” said Aida, who is Josiah’s guardian. “I would definitely always bring Josiah here for anything. We can’t make miracles, but we can help out, so I made a gift.”

“I love him to pieces,” she said. It is clear that these two adore one another. Josiah lights up every time Aida talks and her face radiates a responding love.

When Josiah was about a month old, doctors became concerned because he was not gaining weight satisfactorily. After a stay at another hospital, Josiah was transferred to Children’s for surgery that would greatly reduce his reflux. He was four months old.

After the surgery, little Josiah returned home with a feeding tube port and a PIC line to support him nutritionally. Aida, with the help of an in-home nurse and a physical therapist, manages the care of this adorable boy. It takes nearly all morning to give him food and vitamins via the feeding tube. Plus, he gets physical therapy to keep his physical development on track.

Recently, Josiah had to be admitted to Children’s for treatment of his intestinal infection and stayed for one week until he was better. As they prepared to go home, Aida was proud to share that Josiah had reached a milestone. He was up to 12 pounds and keeping it on!

Once he goes home, Aida will continue working with his Children’s care providers to transition Josiah off of his feeding tube. Until that day, they will return to the outpatient Gastroenterology Clinic at Children’s as often as every two weeks.