Dawson entered the world at just 24 weeks’ gestation in Billings, Montana, weighing only 1 lb 5 oz. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), babies born this prematurely—classified as extremely preterm—face the highest risk of death or serious disability, with complications often affecting the lungs, brain, and other organs.
From the start, Dawson required complex, ongoing medical interventions. Montana does not have a pediatric hospital equipped to manage such advanced needs, forcing his family to travel long distances in search of vital care.
In 2024, through Miracle Flights, Dawson began traveling to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, home to leading pediatric airway specialists. There, his care team recommended a double-stage airway reconstruction, a major procedure used to correct severe airway narrowing (laryngotracheal stenosis) and restore safe breathing.
In June 2025, Dawson underwent this complex surgery. Just weeks later, his stent was removed, and for the first time, he could breathe and speak with new freedom. His doctors noted significant improvements in both his strength and overall health.
Looking ahead, Dawson will return to Cincinnati for additional follow-up procedures, with the family’s hope that by 2026, he will finally be able to live without a tracheostomy tube.
“Life with a medically complex child is incredibly challenging,” his mom reflects. “Miracle Flights has given us the chance to reach the specialists Dawson needs and focus on what matters most—his healing and his future.”
