James Marshall Hamby

James Marshall Hamby was born very prematurely during the holidays while the Hamby′s were out of town visiting family. His birth as a micro preemie was unexpected and caused many complications.

As soon as baby James could travel, he was transferred to Monroe Carell Jr. Children′s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Four months after his birth baby James weighed only 3 lbs 14 oz and was being fed by feeding tubes. He also had an ileostomy, which is a surgical procedure in which the small intestine is attached to the abdominal wall in order to bypass the large intestine. Doctors needed him to weigh a minimum of 4 1/2 lbs before having his ileostomy reversed. After many weeks in Children′s Hospital the doctors were finally able to give James the care he needed to allow him to go home. Since his Birth, James has gone through 20 surgeries and has spent a large portion of his life in the hospital.

Currently James receives his meds in the morning, is fed through a feeding pump four times a day, and receives therapy twice a week at Special Kids. James′s mom, Melissa, cares for him at home.

The Hamby′s are extremely thankful for Monroe Carell Jr. Children′s Hospital at Vanderbilt and Children′s Miracle Network, without which James would not be alive. They see themselves as very blessed to have James in their lives. He beat the odds and is truly a miracle child.

James with his parents, Melissa and Morris