WHO'S CALLAN?

A journey of courage, resilience, and why we fight for medically complex children.

At just 1.6 pounds and 12.5 weeks early, Callan William Murray entered the world under life-threatening circumstances. His birth was the result of severe preeclampsia—a dangerous pregnancy complication that cut off blood flow to him and threatened his mother’s life. The only option was an emergency C-section, a decision that began Callan’s extraordinary fight to survive.

From the start, Callan faced overwhelming odds. He was completely dependent on a ventilator and soon developed pneumonia, which caused long-term damage to his lungs. After heart surgery to correct a PDA and failed attempts to wean him off the ventilator, doctors recommended a tracheostomy. It was the best chance for him to breathe, grow, and eventually thrive.

The trach was not just about being premature—it was about overcoming chronic lung disease caused by aggressive life-saving treatments early on. That single decision shifted everything. It gave Callan the freedom to move from surviving to healing. It gave him the chance to come home.

But even then, the road wasn’t easy.

In early 2021, Callan went into cardiac arrest in the middle of the night. A quick-thinking nurse brought him back, and that terrifying moment led to a major change: switching to a different ventilator better suited for his needs. Slowly but surely, Callan began to make steady gains.

Then, on June 9, 2021, 293 days after his mom was admitted to the NICU, Callan came home for the very first time.

Leaving the hospital brought new challenges. There were no monitors, no nurses—just family, hope, and months of training to face the unknown. But Callan's family was ready to do whatever it took. And Callan? He met every new milestone with determination.

By spring 2022, Callan began taking “sprints”—breathing on his own in short bursts that gradually increased over time. It wasn’t a straight path. Spring hospitalizations followed in 2023 and again in 2024. But in between the setbacks were powerful moments of progress.

And then, after 1,233 days of intubation, the milestone that once seemed impossible became real: Callan’s trach was removed.

He did it. He fought through every obstacle, and he came out stronger.

WHY CALLAN'S CAUSE EXISTS 

This journey changed everything—for Callan and for his family. Today, his dad, Dan, and a team of Directors run Callan’s Cause to support other families navigating life with medically complex children.

We know the fear. We know the fight. We also know the power of community, education, and advocacy.

Callan’s Cause is here to be the helping hand we wish we had more of—offering hope, resources, and support when families need it most.

Callan’s story isn’t just one of survival. It’s a story of strength, love, and purpose. And it’s only the beginning.