About MJF
Our Mission & History
The Macie Jo Foundation (MJF) is on a mission to change the trajectory of HIE, improve outcomes for children and families affected by neonatal brain injury, and build a future where no life is lost or limited by hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.
On April 8, 2022, Amy and Jonathan White welcomed their daughter, Macie Jo, into the world. Born at just 32 weeks gestation via emergency C-section after a sudden loss of fetal heart tones, Macie faced an unimaginable start to life. She endured 25 minutes without oxygen or blood flow to her brain, resulting in severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Immediately after birth, Macie was intubated and rushed to a Level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where her fight for life began.
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In the NICU, Macie did not receive therapeutic hypothermia—an intensive treatment used to slow brain injury progression by cooling the body for 72 hours. Her tiny body was surrounded by wires, machines, and the constant beeping of monitors, each one tracking her fragile progress. Amy and Jonathan sat helplessly by her bedside, praying for miracles while learning a new language of medical terms and outcomes they had never imagined they'd need to understand.
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Doctors delivered heartbreaking news: the MRI confirmed severe brain damage. They were told that if Macie survived, she would likely face profound physical and cognitive challenges. But amid the uncertainty, Macie’s spirit began to shine through. She proved to be a fighter, defying the odds each day she remained stable.
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Over the following weeks, Macie endured countless procedures, battled infections, and overcame setbacks that would challenge even the strongest adult. Her parents celebrated every small victory: a stable heart rate, a successful feeding, a moment without a breathing tube.
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After 62 days in the NICU, Macie finally came home—with a feeding tube, and a medical team just a phone call away. Her journey was only beginning, but she had already changed the world of everyone who met her.
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Amy and Jonathan knew their lives had been forever changed. Through their daughter’s strength and story, they found a new mission: to raise awareness, support other families affected by hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, and advocate for safer birth practices so that fewer families have to endure what they did.
