Meet Maddox
“The nurses are amazing. They truly know your baby, and they get to know you as a parent. Losing Robbie 6 weeks before Maddox was born was the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through, and our nurses got to know my story. They would not only laugh with me; they would cry with me,” – Summer, Maddox’s mom
Summer and Robbie had been dating for 15 years when they finally got pregnant with a little boy in November 2020. They were surprised and ecstatic! “I knew since I was a teenager that my purpose was to be somebody’s momma. I wanted to be a mom more than anything in the world,” Summer shared.
In the midst of such an exciting season of preparing for their little one to arrive, their world stopped when Robbie passed away unexpectedly on April 10, 2021. The shock and heartache Summer experienced after this tragedy was the hardest and darkest time of her life.
Then one evening, Summer noticed her baby boy wasn’t kicking like he always did. When she woke up the next morning she contacted her doctor to see if she could come in for a check-up. Before she could visit her doctor, her water broke. She was only 28 weeks pregnant. Summer was transported from Tifton to Phoebe via ambulance. She was given medication and put on bed rest. Ten days later, Summer was experiencing intense contractions and there was nothing else her medical team could do to keep her baby boy from arriving early.
On May 24, Maddox Reed Moore came into the world and quickly began to heal his mother’s broken heart. Maddox was born 10 weeks early, weighing 3 lbs. and 10 ounces, and was immediately taken to Phoebe’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to begin his own healing journey.
“I couldn’t help but wonder why everything was happening at one time. Why were we having to deal with the death of Robbie and Maddox being born so early? It was an incredibly scary time with so many unknowns, but Phoebe’s NICU was an incredible blessing to us through it all. Looking back, I know Maddox knew I needed him here early. I’m so thankful I got to love on him 10 extra weeks,” Summer shared.
Phoebe’s NICU team soon became an extended family for Summer. During the time Maddox spent in Phoebe’s NICU, he continued to gain weight, strength and increase his lung health. Summer spent every moment she could at his side in the NICU.
“There are no words adequate enough to tell you how thankful we are for each and every NICU staff member. As parents, we are in a very vulnerable and unfamiliar time and they help make the stay in the NICU a lot easier. The nurses are amazing. They truly know your baby, and they get to know you as a parent. Losing Robbie 6 weeks before Maddox was born was the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through, and our nurses got to know my story. They would not only laugh with me; they would cry with me,” Summer shared.
After 40 days of fighting and overcoming many obstacles, Maddox was able to go home. While Summer said it was a scary transition, she felt prepared because of everything the NICU staff taught her during Maddox’s stay.
Today, Maddox is healthy and the happiest 10-month-old you’ve ever seen! He brings so much joy into this world for his mom and everyone he encounters. He is a momma’s boy and loves to meet new people and play with his dogs. “Maddox has a way of making the worst day the best day. He’s the reason I do everything I do. I want him to grow up to be the person his dad was,” Summer shared.
Maddox carries on his father’s legacy and makes his entire family so proud. Summer and Maddox recently returned to Phoebe and donated 778 blankets to Phoebe’s NICU as a way to say thank you. Summer wants to honor Robbie’s memory by always helping out when they can.
The Phoebe family is inspired by Summer’s strength and the miracle that Maddox is. We can’t wait to see all that Maddox accomplishes! We are grateful to have been a small part of his story.
