CRESTVIEW — After a week's stay at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Emily Holcomb is excited to bring Jacob, her newborn son, home.
Her joy follows a brief scare.
DIAGNOSIS: HIRSCHSPRUNG'S DISEASE
Her second child's July 28 birth came with an unexpected turn. Thirty-six hours after delivery, Emily and a nurse noticed that Jacob — weighing in at 9 pounds, 1.5 ounces — had no bowel movements and refused to eat.
Doctors diagnosed him with Hirschsprung’s disease, which prevents bowel movements from passing through a child’s intestines due to missing nerve cells in the lower colon.
Medical specialists performed a procedure to allow Jacob to pass stool through a colostomy bag.
Now, "the worst is behind us,” Emily, who has been staying at the Ronald McDonald house, said.
In the next three to four months, Jacob will undergo a corrective procedure, allowing him to pass stool naturally, she said.
In the meantime, Emily will provide Jacob with constant care, and she will be unable to work.
'I'M SO BLESSED'
Friends, family and even strangers have shown support by donating to a Gofundme.com account. Within nine days, donations exceeded a $3,000 goal.
“Most of these people who have donated, I don’t even know who they are,” Emily said. “I’m so blessed.”
Justin Lindsey, a Crestview Realtor, has chipped in by pledging to share an upcoming commission — up to $5,500 — with the family.
Lindsey, who works for Premier Property Group in Destin, attends the same church as Emily’s family. After learning about the situation, Justin — who is expecting his second child with wife Melissa — decided to help.
As soon as Lindsey’s next client enters a contract allowing him to sell their home, Lindsey will write the family a check.
“I want to get them the money as soon as possible,” Lindsey said.
Giving back, he said, is his motto.
“You get what you give in this universe,” he said.
WANT TO HELP?
Receive updates on Jacob Holcomb's condition or to make donations.
Looking for a home? Learn about a Crestview Realtor who has pledged his next commission for Jacob's medical bills.
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Community supports single mother after son's diagnosis with abdomen disorder