In March 2026, Anastasia and Matt welcomed the much anticipated arrival of their baby boy, Lennox. They navigated his birth and his immediate need for open-heart surgery with love and incredible strength. Those who know them, know that watching their newborn face such a challenge was heart-wrenching, but his resilience was astounding, and he pulled through like a little warrior.
They spent 65 days with him in the hospital, celebrating every small victory and cherishing each milestone. At just six months, Lennox needed another rare procedure—a thymus implant for his congenital athymia. This diagnosis means that Lennox was born without a functioning thymus--which trains our T cells to fight infections and prevent the immune system from attacking the body. Only two hospitals worldwide perform this surgery, and Lennox, as the 65th recipient, emerged once again, victorious.
Lennox's bright eyes bring warmth to anyone who sees his pictures and he continues to grow, smile and reach milestones under the loving care of his parents.
Anastasia and Matt have endured unimaginable exhaustion, far surpassing what many of us have experienced in the first 6 months of raising a healthy newborn and they have done so humbly, carefully and with exceptional fortitude.
Both Anastasia and Matt have impacted our community and ice families in such positive ways. They would never ask of anyone, anything more than prayers and well wishes for their son, which is why, as friends of Anastasia and Matt, we are launching this campaign. Please consider donating to this fund if you are able, as an act of love and encouragement as these new parents absorb the financial impact that these life-saving procedures have made on their sweet family. This is one small way that we can come together and help--when all else is beyond our control.
As the novelist George Eliot wrote, "What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?"
