Communities band together to help support local family

Colby, Abbotsford and the surrounding communities came together in support of two educators who have been traveling to Marshfield to visit their son every day for the past four months. Wozniak’s Walk, organized by Colby Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and Abbotsford Being a Leader And Standing Tall (BLAST), took place on Monday as students, community members, staff and others came to Colby and Abbotsford to walk in support of the Wozniaks. Donation buckets were available for anyone who wished to give money or extra change.

The funds raised went directly to the family to help cover medical costs and money spent on traveling back and forth Continued from page 1

to Marshfield.

In May, Jessica Wozniak, a guidance counselor at Abbotsford Elementary School, and her husband, Steve, now the principal at Colby High School, went in for their monthly checkup. They were given news that she had a condition called pre-eclampsia which is a high blood pressure disorder that can occur during pregnancy.

On June 7, Jessica went in for a follow-up appointment and ultrasound. The doctors notified her that she would be admitted to the hospital immediately to hopefully make it through the pregnancy on bed rest. Jessica said the doctors were concerned about both her and Malachi’s safety and wanted her to stay at the hospital through the 34th week of pregnancy. However, five days later, Jessica was rushed for an emergency C-section on June 12 at 11:45 a.m.

After 28 weeks and five days of pregnancy, Malachi was born weighing one pound, 13 ounces and was 13 inches in length. Malachi was taken straight to the newborn intensive care unit (NICU) where he received around the clock care for his body that was still developing. Malachi was put on an oscillator to help him breathe. He would stay on the oscillator for the first 38 days of his life. During that time, Jessica, Steve and their daughter Jade were unable to hold Malachi due to the oscillator and the fragile state Malachi was in.

After the oscillator was removed, doctors placed Malachi on a conditional ventilator to help him start the process of breathing on his own. After Malachi was taken off of the oscillator, Jessica and Steve were able to hold their son for the first time. Malachi made it six days before a complication forced Malachi to be put back on the oscillator for five more weeks.

Around Aug. 24, Malachi was able to go back on the conditional ventilator and get his tube from the oscillator taken out. A series of surgeries to counter multiple medical issues ensued in the following weeks.

On Oct. 10, the Wozniaks had a decision to make. They could leave Malachi in the hospital for a year or longer on the oscillator and eventually have a trach put in to assist Malachi in his breathing, or they could have a trach put in now to help him breathe with the idea that he might be able to go home sometime over the next couple of months. They decided to have the trach put in now and wait patiently for doctors to give the go-ahead to take Malachi home.

Right now, Malachi is seven pounds with open eyes and facial expressions. After recently being moved to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), Jade, who is in second grade, was finally able to see and hold Malachi. With a daughter who is in extra-curricular activities, Steve, who is a middle school football and varsity wrestling coach and Jessica, who is a dance instructor in Loyal, life has been busy but Jessica said the family still finds ways to spend time with Malachi every day. “It’s challenging because you want to put 100 percent wherever you’re at,” Jessica said. “Sometimes it’s hard because you want to put 100 percent in at work but sometimes you have your days where you’re just worried and thinking about him a lot.”

She added that Abbotsford has been very helpful in allowing her to spend as much time as she needs away from work.

“Abbotsford has been so great in working with me,” Jessica said. “I know even if I can’t come back to work full time, they’re going to work with me because it’s not going to be forever.”

Community support has gone a long way in helping the family through the early stages of the journey.

“People have been really helpful. Our good friends take Jade so we’re able to go visit Malachi at the hospital,” Jessica said. “My parents were able to come out. They were here for two months from California to help. A lot of people from the community brought meals for our family in the summertime.”

“That was really nice of the community to want to help us,” she said. “I think a lot of people want to help and they don’t know how to help because Steve and I aren’t very good about asking for help. We are both people who make sure we take care of it without burdening anybody.”

There is a long road ahead for the Wozniaks and Malachi in particular and Jessica said she doesn’t know right now what the future will look like when Malachi comes home.

“I just don’t know what it’ll look like when he comes home because we’ll have to have in-home nursing help. He’ll have all his machines and everything that comes with having a trach.”

Jessica said children who have had similar conditions as Malachi have had the trach until age four or five. She also said she would love for Malachi to be home by Christmas but she knows that the speed at which he comes home is up to him.

“Everything’s been on Malachi’s time. He really decides what’s going to happen and he definitely likes to keep everyone on their toes.”

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E verything’s been on Malachi’s time. He really decides what’s going to happen and he definitely likes to keep everyone on their toes.”

Jessica Wozniak referring to her’s son’s resiliency.

A DAY OF GIVING -Left: Jessica, Steve and Jade Wozniak walked throughout the day with other walkers who donated money and time to show support for the family. Right: A kindergartener at Abbotsford Elementary puts some money in the donation bucket.STAFF PHOTOS/NEAL HOGDEN

SUPPORTING THE CAUSE -Left: a group of second graders take a hot lap around the track as they showed support for Malachi and burned off some energy in the process. Right: The Wozniaks pose for a picture with NICU nurses (from left to right) Susan Mueller, Betty Minton and Amy Marek who made the trip from Marshfield to help support the family.STAFF AND SUBMITTED PHOTOS