—Submitted photo Michael “Mikey” Biggs is pictured above with his mother, Freda, in the NICU at the Iowa Children’s Hospital in Iowa City. Biggs was born premature at 26 weeks gestation, which resulted in several medical issues including a congenital heart problem. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Mikey and his family with the high cost of medical care he will require.

A Webster City infant is currently in the fight for his life. Michael “Mikey” Biggs was born premature at 26 weeks, weighing only one pound and four ounces. Mikey was born extremely early on July 10, 2017. Due to his premature birth, Mikey was born with a congenital heart defect. He currently resides in the NICU at The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

“When something like this happens, it changes your life completely,” said Mikey’s father, Mark. “We had to basically move our entire life to Iowa City.”

Mikey’s mom, Freda, age 41, developed pre-eclampsia around week 25 of the pregnancy. According to the Mayo Clinic, this pregnancy complication is characterized by high blood pressure and damage to the liver and kidneys.

“It could no longer be controlled by medication, so it was decided on July 10 that they needed to deliver by Cesarean or else it would endanger her and Mikey’s life,” said Biggs.

Prior to the Cesarean, Freda had been in and out of the hospital several times with medical issues.

“We had two to three day stays to get her blood pressure under control. They would get it under control and then it would be a week and suddenly it would be very high again,” said Biggs. “It was a very long two months.”

Freda had multiple overnight stays at Iowa Specialty Hospital in Clarion and Mercy in Des Moines.

“Our last in-patient stay was at Iowa City because we knew that no matter when she had to deliver, she had to deliver and stay in the hospital,” Biggs said.

According to Biggs, the University of Iowa Hospital is the only hospital in the state of Iowa able to handle this type of surgery.

“They have a great NICU there,” Biggs said. “One of the best in the nation.”

The couple have 24-hour access to Mikey, which alleviates some of their stress. However, with upcoming surgeries, Mikey is not out of the woods yet.

Mikey, now nearly a month-and-a-half old, currently weighs 2 lbs. and 11 oz. He will not be able to have his first major surgery until he weighs 6 lbs. and 8 oz. Doctors estimate Mikey will reach this weight goal in November.

Mikey’s first surgery was nearly three weeks ago. Doctors removed 21 centimeters of his bowel. Three days after the surgery, the doctors had to open him back up due to swelling problems. He is still recovering from the bowel removal.

“He got over that hurdle, so now we’re just looking forward to the heart surgery,” Biggs said.

Mikey will need at least more two surgeries. According to Biggs, the first surgery will be the placement of a temporary stint.

“Right now both his pulmonary and the other artery are coming out of the right ventricle,” said Biggs. “The right ventricle is typically the one that circulates oxygen-poor blood. So the first surgery will be just to create a temporary pathway to the left ventricle so his heart will work semi-correctly.”

When Mikey is three to four months old, doctors will do a more permanent surgery to move the aorta over to the left ventricle where it belongs.

“He’s a fighter. He really is. He’s been through a lot, but he’s looking great now,” said Biggs, “There was a time when we were scared and frightened we were going to lose him, but he’s healthy as an ox right now.”

Mark has started a GoFundMe page entitled “Our Miracle, Mikey Biggs” which has raised $410.00 so far. The Biggs hope to raise $1,000, with plans to heighten that goal once it is reached to help provide for their living expenses while they are away from home. Mark and Freda are currently living at the Ronald McDonald House in Iowa City so that they can be as close to their son as possible as he goes through this journey.

Funds raised will also go towards Mikey’s medical expenses when he is released from the hospital.

The couple also has another son, Marcus Irving, who is 21.