A very special journey…

On January 5, 2016, Felix was born in the back of an ambulance racing to the University of Minnesota. Felix arrived more than 12 weeks early, and the story of his “speedy” delivery on the freeway had everyone convinced he’d make a big splash in the world.

A few months later, on September 16, 2016, Felix’s cousin Jonah came early, too! He spent his earliest days at Hennepin County Medical Center. Jonah was a week more premature than Felix. Both boys spent their NICU days surrounded by their parents, family, and loving care providers.

Felix’s dad Scott and Jonah’s dad Jeremy are cousins who grew up fishing, hunting, and loving life together as part of a large extended family. Now as dads, they both experienced having a premature baby in the NICU.

Unfortunately, Felix and Jonah had very different outcomes. Felix was as healthy as a baby born so early could be, but became very sick. At nineteen days old, Felix died in his parents’ arms. When Scott heard later that year that Jeremy and Julie had their baby early, he wished and hoped and sent every good thought he had to his cousin through his tears. As sad as Scott was for his loss, he was also happy for and proud of his cousin Jeremy for the wonderful dad he already was.

Thankfully, Jonah had a successful stay in the NICU and is growing up to be a precocious, energetic little boy who brings two times the joy and smiles to the world.

Scott and Jeremy both have a passion for helping others and wanted to find a way to use their experiences to make the sun shine a little brighter for families facing the challenge of a baby in the NICU. Felix Foundation is their way of giving back to the world and reaching out with a helping hand to other families, while honoring the memory of Felix and fulfilling Scott’s wish that his little boy would change the world.

We truly hope that through the Felix Foundation, we can give families more opportunities to spend time with their new babies in the NICU.