The beginning of 2025 has been exciting for one Massachusetts family. After 401 days in the hospital, their young son finally went home. Leon Springer-Sheffield was born prematurely with critical health issues. But after months of doting care from the staff at Franciscan Children’s Hospital, he made it home for his dad’s birthday.
According to information provided to CafeMom from Franciscan Children’s Hospital, staff helped prepare Leon and his family for their new life. On January 8, staff cheered and blew bubbles as Leon headed home for the first time.
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Leon had serious airway issues at birth.
Leon arrived at 33 weeks with airway issues, The Enterprise reported. Medical personnel first transferred him to Boston Children’s Hospital. While there, he had a tracheotomy for breathing and a G-tube for feeding. He then received a ventilator before his transfer to Franciscan Children’s Hospital.
Leon arrived at the hospital in April 2024.
He spent the next nine months under the supervision of Franciscan Children’s Hospital’s care team. The respiratory team helped Leon get stronger and improved his breathing. He frequently received physical and occupational therapy, which helped staff eventually decrease his ventilator settings. He also started eating purees.
Nurse practitioner Rachel Ghosh explained in a video interview provided to CafeMom that Leon struggled at first with ventilator settings and infection. But recently, “He has been doing so well. He’s been really stable for a long time now despite having a really critical airway,” she says.
Staff praised Leon's parents.
Ghosh said Leon’s parents, Latrice Springer and William Sheffield, committed themselves to caring for Leon and learning as much as possible while he was at Franciscan Children’s Hospital.
“His parents are phenomenal. Without them being willing to learn as much as they have, Leon maybe would have had to stay here much longer,” she explained in the video. “It’s so important to his development to get home with Mom and Dad and out into the world.”
The discharge day was emotional for Leon's parents.
Sheffield said in the interview that it was hard to express how he felt about finally getting to take Leon home and being together as a family. But with a smile, he admitted, “I’m just so happy. Inside, the little kid in me is just jumping around.”
Springer agreed, saying she is both overwhelmed and grateful for Leon’s progress while at Franciscan Children’s hospital.
“It’s been a lot of trial and tribulations, but the good has always outweighed the bad,” the mom said in the video. “We try to keep as positive as we can, especially when things were super tough.”
According to his mom, Leon spent 256 days at Franciscan Children’s Hospital, and leaving was the best “early birthday present” for Sheffield.
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Staff gave Leon an incredible send-off.
Staff blew bubbles and cheered as his mom and dad pushed his stroller down the hall. Leon and his parents are ready, and Sheffield credited the hospital for preparing them “very well“ to care for Leon at home. During their stay, Springer said staff checked on Leon and them, making their mental and emotional health a priority.
“They really have made a humongous impact on our lives. You guys are like family to us now, so for us to be leaving,” she said, pausing with tears in her eyes. “For us to be leaving, it is a little tough, but I know that we’ll be back to see you guys again.”
