1 in 25,000: Blaire’s Strength through a Rare Journey

At a routine 24-week pregnancy scan, Nicole and Jeremy received unexpected news. Their daughter Blaire’s tiny heart appeared shifted to the opposite side of her body. Within days, they were referred to The Chicago Institute for Fetal Health at Lurie Children’s. Further testing revealed Blaire had Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformation (CPAM), a rare lung lesion affecting just 1 in 25,000 babies. 

From that moment on, their family’s journey became filled with frequent hospital visits, careful monitoring, and uncertainty.

Throughout the remainder of the pregnancy, the fetal medicine team closely watched the growth of the cyst and prepared for every possible outcome. At 39 weeks, Blaire was delivered at Prentice Hospital at Northwestern Medicine and transferred directly to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) shortly after birth. At only one week old, she underwent surgery to remove the affected lobe of her lung and the cyst. Just three days later, Blaire was finally able to come home with her family.

Today, Blaire is a happy, friendly one-year-old who loves saying “Hi” and “Bye” to everyone she meets. She fills her days with books, playing with animals, family walks, watching Bluey, and eating her favorite foods. Her family continues to celebrate every milestone, especially after receiving positive updates about her lung regrowth from the Lurie Children’s team.

The Walk for Lurie Children’s

For their family, participating in The Walk for Lurie Children's is about giving back to the hospital that carried them through some of the hardest and most uncertain days of their lives. It’s also an opportunity to raise awareness about CPAM and celebrate Blaire’s incredible strength and resilience.

They hope others will join them in supporting the hospital because every contribution helps make difficult days a little easier for children and families facing medical challenges. Together, we can continue supporting the care, compassion, and life-changing moments that mean so much to families like theirs.

Join us on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at The Walk for Lurie Children’s. Walk three miles at Busse Woods or Montrose Harbor alongside patients, families, caregivers and staff, then join the post-walk family celebration and find moments of connection, celebration and inspiration throughout the day.

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