Oscar is Not a Grouch

Oscar Burns was the twin brother of Oliver, baby brother to his sisters, Georgia and Charleigh, and a son to us, Josh and Jill Burns.

Born on December 18, 2020 (also National Twin Day), his life while short and complicated, only 59 days, he forever changed our lives. When Oscar was born, he arrived with many challenges from his first days, beginning with being diagnosed with Down Syndrome. Little did we know, that was the least of our worries. Upon entering the NICU at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines, IA, Oscar’s oxygen levels were not where they should’ve been and after two weeks of no improvement, the doctors thought it would be best to transfer him to The University of Iowa NICU. While there, several tests and scans were done every week for the next six weeks. I took all the notes I could with every round that was conducted to learn more about how we could get Oscar better to get him home. While being 127 miles away from the other newborn twin and my other two kids, I decided to stay in Iowa City and was in between hotels and the Ronald McDonald House due to Covid that was currently making accommodations just another thing I had to worry about. Sometimes I would just stay at the hospital so I wouldn’t have to spend money in a hotel. As I continued to learn more and more about a type of persistent pulmonary hypertension, Oscar eventually lost his battle on February 15, 2021.

Ever since Oscar’s passing, we have brought cupcakes for the staff, handmade little baby blankets, and handmade little pillow covers for the NICU, as well as a care package for the family who is in Oscar’s room every Valentine’s holiday the past two years.

We have always wanted to give back more in some way, helping those that helped me and my family along this journey, and as seeing how hard the nurses and doctors work inside a NICU from Des Moines to Iowa City, continuing to research and learn more so they can help other infants, working with other hospital systems around the country. And we especially want to give to the parents and children that come to be in the same situation we were in to make their experience even just a little better than what it is. We have strived to find a way to honor him and keep his name alive while helping other families that we feel needed more help. In honor of his name we have vowed to try and give back. We ask for your generosity in the holiday season, for Oscar’s birthday, to help families in need that we can support them through a difficult time that we faced in our lives, especially during Christmas. This will help support a family meal, gas to the hospital, or a night in a hotel if needed. My dream one day is to fundraise enough money so that parents will never have to pay a bill for any expenses while their baby is fighting for their life, and to fund more research towards pulmonary hypertension in newborns. We appreciate your kindness & support.

~With Love, The Oscar Burns Family

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