Canton mom creates nonprofit to help others after son's death in NICU

Canton Repository - 11/9/2021

CANTON - Had he lived, Houston Autrey would be a rambunctious kindergartner; the first son and second of five siblings.

It was not to be.

Houston was born prematurely, followed by more than four months in the neonatal intensive care units at Aultman and Akron Children's hospitals.

The experience prompted his mother, Ashley McDonald, to launch Houston's Lift Off, a nonprofit support organization for families of infants in the NICU.

"They put me on bed rest at 23 weeks. I had him when I was at 25 weeks," McDonald said. "He was born at 1 pound, 3 ounces. He was in the Aultman NICU for three months."

Born Aug. 14, 2015, he died Jan. 5, 2016.

More: US birth rate falls to lowest point in more than a century

McDonald said she was told that Houston's umbilical cord was too short, which deprived him of the nutrients needed to grow to full term. He was originally scheduled to be born Nov. 22, 2016, but arrived early via an emergency C-section.

"When he was 4 months old, he was transferred to Akron Children's because Aultman said they couldn't do any more for him," she said. "He died a month later."

McDonald said her son also had pulmonary hypertension.

"His lungs couldn't handle his body," she said.

But McDonald said she remembered the care her family received at Aultman and at Akron Children's, which has a Ronald McDonald House.

"They fed us, and we were able to sleep there," she said.

McDonald began commemorating Houston's birthday and his "angel-versary" (death date) by buying and donating blankets and other items to the Aultman NICU.

"In 2020, I reached out on Facebook and requested donations," McDonald said. "We received so much support, I went to school for certification to obtain a 501 C-3."

So far, Houston's Lift Off has donated 204 gift baskets to NICU families, containing gift cards, gas cards, snacks, hygiene products and baby-care items.

"Anything to help while their baby is in the NICU," McDonald said.

About 380,000, or one in 10 American babies is born prematurely every year, according to the March of Dimes. The condition can be affected by geography, income, race, and even ZIP codes. The charity further reports that the United States has one of the worst rates for prematurity among wealthy nations. The U.S. rate increased to 9.8% in 2016, up from 9.6%, after seven straight years of decline.

Jamie Gaspers is McDonald's best friend, a licensed social worker, and Houston's Lift Off board vice president.

"He was my godson," Gaspers said of Houston. "I'm godmother to all her kids. It was something I could do."

Gaspers said that, so far, Houston's Lift Off has been able to donate to Aultman NICU families about four times a year. They've handed out about 25 baskets at a time because the NICU has 25 units.

McDonald said having a newborn in the NICU "is like being in another world."

"You're constantly hearing monitor is going off," she said. "You're watching your baby constantly fighting for his life, and not knowing if he's going to make it. I still have PTSD.

"It's difficult, especially if you have other children. It's difficult if you don't have transportation. You're scared to go and eat because you're afraid if you leave you're going to miss something."

McDonald and her fiancé, James Hall, are raising four children: Jemel, 10, Joslyn, 9, Phoenix, 5, and Govani, 2.

Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, McDonald said she hasn't been able to meet personally with parents who have received gift baskets, but they have communicated.

Christine Martell, McDonald's mother, who also serves on the board, said the effort is still worth it because they know what it's like to have an infant in the NICU.

"Our mission is to carry on Houston's legacy by helping other families, to let them know they're not alone," she said. "Every family we help is one more we know that Houston's passing has touched someone else's life."

McDonald was asked what advice she would give to current and future NICU parents.

"Stay positive, stay faithful," she replied. "Don't give up hope."

Houston's Lift Off will host its first "Premature Awareness Event " from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Nazir Grotto Hall at 1717 Sixth St. SW. The free event will include a presentation by an Aultman NICU nurse.

National Premature Awareness Day is Nov. 17. To learn more, visit www.HoustonsLiftOff.com.

Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @cgoshayREP