When an area woman had serious pregnancy complications, doctors said termination was an option. Mighty, miracle Max is now 7 months old and home

Max Ernest is a fighter. At 7 months old, he has already earned a nickname - Mighty Max. But, his family, friends and medical team describe him as a miracle.

Parents Jessica and Mykel Ernest of Poplar Bluff, and his older brother Jack Ernest, 13, originally planned to welcome him June 8, but Max had other plans.

He was born Feb. 9, at 23 weeks and zero days, said his mother. He was 17 weeks early.

A registered nurse in Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center’s emergency room, Jessica was 20 weeks and six days pregnant when she started experiencing problems.

Leaking amniotic fluid, Jessica was treated with IV antibiotics and placed on bed rest. After five days, her water ruptured and she returned to the hospital. The local doctors transferred her by ambulance to St. Mary’s Hospital in St. Louis.

She was 22 weeks and two days pregnant and only had two ounces of amniotic fluid.

Max Ernest is pictured at 7 months and 4 days old. (Photo provided

The medical team did everything possible to slow down delivery and to help in the baby’s development, but Jessica knew the situation was “pretty bad.”

Doctors reviewed the family’s options, one of which was to terminate the pregnancy.

With her voice cracking with tears, Jessica explained, she’s “still emotional” when she talks about the experience.

essica Ernest is pictured the first time she was able to hold her son, Max, after he was born 17 weeks early. Photo provided

“I did not expect to hear that,” said Jessica who told the doctor, “it is not my decision to make.”

While the medical team was trying every possible way to delay delivery, on a Thursday she began to have contractions. By the next day, Jessica was running a fever and both her and the baby’s heart rates went up.

“I did not feel well at all,” she said.

She began bleeding and she had an infection. The doctors decided to deliver the baby that day, which was at 23 weeks and zero days, Jessica said.

The neonatologist from Cardinal Glennon wanted to prepare the couple for the worst. She was moved to labor and delivery and given medicines to help her and the baby.

Jessica soon delivered a 1 pound and 0.1 ounce boy, the mighty, miracle Max.

A neonatal team tried twice unsuccessfully to intubate the baby. The waiting parents knew this was necessary if their son was going to have a chance to survive.

Another doctor tired one last time and was finally able to intubate Max, Jessica said.

While the medical team cared for the baby, Jessica was fighting her own medical battles. As soon as the baby was intubated and taken to St. Mary’s NICU, Jessica went to surgery.

Recalling the mood after his birth, Jessica knew the medical team did not think it would end well. She described the mood as an ominous, bizarre environment with everyone trying to help him sustain life.

After what the doctors had told the parents about his chances to live, Jessica recalls when her husband saw Max moving his arms and legs, he said “that is a baby boy.”

After Jessica returned from surgery, she was able to see Max before he was transferred to Cardinal Glennon. Her father-in-law David Ernest accompanied Max to the other medical center.

While she was recovering at St. Mary’s, She and Mykel watched Max through a NICU view camera for hours. He was snuggled up in a blanket, but was fighting to move his arms.

They realized their youngest son was going to fight to survive.

Mykel Ernest of Poplar Bluff is pictured the first time he was able to hold his youngest son, after the boy was born in distress, at just 23 weeks.Photo provided

During the 133 days Max was in the hospital, he fought and conquered many battles. Max had tubes for various treatments, to help his lungs while they were maturing and for feedings. At times, he was able to remove the tubes and IVs being used to give him medicines and breast milk. He suffered from perforated bowels more than once, lung issues and about any problem a premature baby could have.

“It was one step forward and three steps back,” Jessica said.

At one point the neonatologist who had originally given them little or no hope Max would survive was telling others “he’s tough just give him a chance.”

When he was about six to seven weeks old, Max “turned around and was totally a different baby,” Jessica said, adding he was responding to treatment. “The goal was for him to gain weight and the rest of him will grow too.”

Premature babies have to be watched carefully for a number of issues with their eyes, brain hemorrhages and lung diseases like bronchopulmonary dysplasia, all of which Max has conquered.

“I never left St. Louis until the day before he was discharged,” she said.

While the family had a room at the Ronald McDonald House, Jessica only left Max’s side to shower.

“I did not leave very often,” she said.

Jessica didn’t want to miss a moment with Max. His eyes were fused together at birth, but she was there when he opened them for the first time.

Jessica and her husband decided their youngest son was such a fighter, he deserved a tough boy name, so they picked Max.

When he was transferred from St. Mary’s to Cardinal Glennon, they were asked to start a Facebook page for him. Jessica explained everyone at the hospital thought he was “hot stuff” so his page is named Mighty Max.

Jessica can recall his journey minute-by-minute and how he slowly got better hour-by-hour, day-by-day and week-by-week.

She realizes his lungs were a lot more premature than he was when he was born.

Jessica also remembers out of the premature babies born when he was delivered, “Max is the only one who survived.”

The physicians as well as Max’s four nurses were attached to him.

“Every little thing is a milestone,” she shared. “He has always done things his way - that is Max. Even now he is calling the shots. He really is a miracle.”

He’s still dealing with a couple of issues, but she said, “he could have so many more.”

“He smiles and is so active moving his arms and legs,” Jessica said. “When you set him up, he looks at everything that is going on. He really is a miracle. He’s tough.”

Max Ernest spent 133 days in the hospital after he was born early, weighing barely over 1 pound at birth.Photo provided

Max is staying on his oxygen and earlier this month weighed 9 pounds and 13 ounces.

Jessica said it was hard being away from her older son, but he was old enough he knew what was happening. “He turned 13 right after Max was born. He’s a good big brother to the wild child.”

She said her family had “tons of support, prayers and positive thoughts offered for them. Everybody has rallied around us and lifted us up.”

Grandparents are David and Lisa Ernest and Teresa Hefner, all of Poplar Bluff, and David Hefner of Parish, Tennessee.

How Max is home and doing well. Jessica, who has been in nursing for nine years, has returned to work at PBRMC.

She praises the hospital for their support while she was away.