About MJF
Meet Our Hero: Macie Jo
Our Foundation is named after a little fighter named Macie. A fight she never asked for, but one she has faced with unimaginable strength, courage, and grace. Macie’s journey with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a testament to the power of hope and the resilience of the human spirit. Her story is not just her own—it represents countless children and families who find themselves in a battle they never anticipated, but who rise every day determined to create a brighter, safer future.
In December of 2023, Macie was hospitalized for Infantile Spasms, a rare and severe form of epilepsy that affects babies typically under 12 months old. This hospital stay marked the end of one chapter for the White family—a chapter defined by surviving the unknowns of NICU life, navigating early diagnoses, and advocating fiercely for Macie’s care.
But it also marked the beginning of something new.
​
From the weight of that experience, a new purpose was born—one that turned pain into passion and hardship into hope. That new chapter is now known as the Macie Jo Foundation.
​
Inspired by Macie’s strength and resilience, the Foundation was created to honor her journey and ensure that no other family walks the path of HIE or complex neonatal diagnoses alone. What began in a hospital room became a mission—to educate, advocate, and work toward a future where safer birth systems, earlier intervention, and better outcomes are not the exception, but the standard.