When Mary Michael was born in September of 2017, her parents, Andy and Shannon, were overjoyed. But that joy quickly turned to concern when they noticed breathing issues in their newborn. Mary Michael’s breathing was labored. She seemed to be gasping for air. After local specialists could not identify a problem, Mary Michael’s pediatrician near their Tupelo, Miss., home encouraged her parents to seek treatment at Le Bonheur Children’s. At the initial visit to Le Bonheur, Mary Michael’s doctor ordered a sleep study to measure her oxygen intake. Le Bonheur doctors discovered that Mary Michael’s aorta was putting pressure on her windpipe. Her oxygen levels were very low, and she needed immediate surgery. Within days, Le Bonheur surgeons attached Mary Michael’s aorta to her chest wall, relieving the immense pressure so she could breathe. Following surgery, Mary Michael’s parents learned that she had been breathing through a hole smaller than the size of a coffee straw. “We don’t know what we would have done without the expert care Mary Michael received at Le Bonheur,” Andy said. “They saved our daughter’s life.” Today, 4-year-old Mary Michael is thriving! She loves feeding ducks at the park, playing soccer and helping her parents at home with chores. The Kimbrough family are so grateful for Le Bonheur Children’s. When you participate in this year’s Pumpkin Run, you are making a difference for kids like Mary Michael. Register today by clicking the link in our bio. #lebonheurchildrenshospital