Jacob Kane Kuzma

JACOB KANE KUZMA was born on Friday, May 4, 2007 at 5:31 p.m. He died 23 short days later on May 27, 2007, the saddest day of our lives. Kane was born at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Our care was transferred there after our first sonogram revealed that Kane had a condition called a Diaphragmatic hernia. After consulting with many physicians and doing our own research, we were educated about our son’s condition and of the potential risks that come with it. We were assured by all of Kane’s doctors and nurses that all of the procedures Kane would endure would be pain free, as well as, giving him a very good chance at a full happy healthy life. That is all two loving parents could ask for. A chance to see a child that two people created out of love for one another grow and flourish and live life to it’s fullest. That chance was a chance we accepted and that we would take any time they were presented.

Kane was born 8lbs. 7oz. of pure fighter. He came out crying which is when we knew for sure we would call him Kane meaning “warrior”. Crying was the first sign that he was fighting to live. Children with his particular condition sometimes can not take in enough air to be able to cry. Kane fought from the very beginning. He was taken immediately after birth to Johns Hopkins NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), but was shortly thereafter transferred upstairs to the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit). Upon arrival upstairs, Kane caused quite a stir among the nurses. He was the only baby with a waiting list of people who wanted the opportunity to care for him. They all wanted to take care of the beautiful baby boy with the full head of brown hair and gorgeous blue eyes, a tiny adorable button nose, and a dimple in his chin. It’s so hard to believe that a baby so perfect on the outside could be so sick on the inside. Kane had many ups and downs while he was in the PICU. This is when we realized how strong he really was. Whether it was a bad day or just a few bad hours, Kane would always be able to bounce back by himself, or with minimal help from the Hopkins staff. After Kane received surgery, he had some very good days. He was on track to come home with his mom and dad. Shortly thereafter, Kane’s oxygen saturations started to drop and he got even sicker. They then would come up and eventually drop again, but everytime he would correct them on his own. He had many more good days than bad ones. This was a great example of Kane’s will to live. He was so tough and so strong until the very end. It was so hard to believe when his saturations dropped and never came back up. He had fought so long and so hard for such a little guy who was so sick. He was so impressive. His mother and I could not have been anymore proud of the fight he put up for himself and for us as well. In the end he truly proved to be a “little warrior” who was given a chance. And in the end you can’t ask for anything more than that. If we ever had that chance again to have our son live a full happy healthy life, we would always take that chance.

Jacob “Kane” Kuzma is survived by his two adoring parents who never left his side. Steven “Jacob” Kuzma of Joppa, MD and Kimberly Ann Rodick of Bel Air, MD who loved him unconditionally from the second we knew about him, and if it’s possible, even more today. It’s hard to imagine that a love that is already so strong can grow stronger and stronger with each passing day. This is how we feel about our baby boy. It is so hard to deal with and to understand why the sweet beautiful baby boy who we love and adore so much will never get to come home with his mom and dad. Mommy and Daddy love you Kane. You did a good job buddy!

Contributions may be made to the Pediatric ICU at Johns Hopkins Childrens Center, Office of Development, One Charles Center, 100 N. Charles St., Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21201.