Milo Judd weighed 30 per cent of the average baby at birth.
At 2.2 pounds, he was born via c-section, and entered the world needing help to breathe.
Milo was born a B次元官网网址減reemie,B次元官网网址 a baby that is born prematurely, much before their due date. In MiloB次元官网网址檚 case, that was two months.
Charlotte, MiloB次元官网网址檚 mother, was suffering from a condition called preeclampsia. It meant Milo was not getting enough blood in the womb, and needed to leave.
In December of 2020, Charlotte and Jeff Judd learned their son was coming in days, not months.
B次元官网网址淚t was like, B次元官网网址楧rop what youB次元官网网址檙e doing and get here now,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址 Jeff said of a phone call he received from Charlotte at the time.
Charlotte was being airlifted to Vancouver.
On Dec. 7, 2020, their son was born at the Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster.
Leaving the womb roughly 10 weeks before average, Milo had skin that nurses said was too soft to be stroked. If the parents wanted to touch their child, theyB次元官网网址檇 have to settle for a press.
Amazed by the size of Milo, the Judds bought an Iron Man toy that matched his size and kept it for reference.
That was two years ago.
On May 13, on the hottest Saturday of the year, Milo bounced around the familyB次元官网网址檚 backyard, with Iron Man in one hand. He played with the garden hose, soaking himself, and then dug in the sandpit.
If Charlotte and Jeff ever worried that their son wouldnB次元官网网址檛 look like a trouble-making two-year-old, thatB次元官网网址檚 behind them.
B次元官网网址淐hange!B次元官网网址 the toddler says, appearing in front of Jeff, who lifts Milo into the air.
B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e soaked, I donB次元官网网址檛 want to hold you!B次元官网网址 Jeff says. He lowers Milo to the grass, gets up from the lawn chair, and heads inside to fetch the toddler a change of clothes.
The Judd family has been named the 2023 ambassador family for the Comox Valley Child Development Association. The association has worked with Charlotte, Jeff and Milo for two years offering physiotherapy, speech therapy and play groups. Charlotte said the experience taught her B次元官网网址減eople have your back.B次元官网网址
Staff chose MiloB次元官网网址檚 story to showcase success with developmental recovery supports in the Comox Valley.
In previous years, the announcement of the CVCDA ambassador family coincided with the media kick-off campaign for the telethon, which takes place annually on the first Sunday in November. The early announcement this year, and moving forward, is by design.
B次元官网网址淭his is a new format we are planning to continue so we have a longer run to promote and involve our ambassador family for events and opportunities throughout the year, not just Telethon; more of an organization ambassador rather than a Telethon ambassador,B次元官网网址 explained CVCDA marketing and communications director, Brooklyn Galloway.
The 2023 CVCDA Telethon will air on Sunday, Nov. 5.
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