Meet Fynnley!

Fynnley Jansen is a brave and resilient 2-year-old who embodies the power of hope, the strength of family and the incredible impact that our community’s support can have on a child's life. After an uneventful and healthy pregnancy, Taylor went in for a routine checkup at 35 weeks pregnant. During an ultrasound, doctors immediately realized something was wrong. They were unable to find Fynnley’s stomach through the imaging and found that she was in fetal distress.

Taylor was immediately transferred to PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend for an emergency C-section, a hospital an hour away from home that had a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit equipped to care for Fynnley after she was born. Fynnley was born weighing just 4 lb. 10 oz. and within her first few days of life was diagnosed with VACTERL Association, a condition that presented multiple complex birth defects. She had esophageal atresia (an abnormal connection between her airway, esophagus, and stomach), anorectal malformation, multiple holes in her heart, reflux in her kidneys, a tethered spinal cord and a limb difference in her thumb.

The Jansen family spent 73 long days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at RiverBend, facing obstacles at every turn. Fynnley needed 6 surgeries during her NICU stay to help repair the various impacts of VACTERL, including attaching her esophagus and stomach, placing a Gastrostomy Tube (G-Tube) so she could eat, and anorectal reconstruction. While Fynnley faced numerous challenges, her indomitable spirit shone through. The team of dedicated doctors, nurses, surgeons, and caregivers provided her with the care and support she needed to overcome each obstacle.

In her first 18 months of life, Fynnley returned to RiverBend 11 more times to surgically repair complications of the esophageal atresia and underwent a total of 19 surgeries before she reached 2 years of age.

Thanks to the expertise and commitment of her medical team and the generosity of our community, Fynnley has conquered her major surgeries, paving the way for a brighter future. Though she will always carry the many scares from her experience, she tackles life with enthusiasm every day, eating whatever she wants, and runs and plays without restrictions. Her determination and resilience are truly awe-inspiring, a testament to the power of the human spirit!

 Learn more about Fynnley's story here, in this year's Miracle Champion Family Video.