The Toddler in the NICU: Baby James’ Story of Strength, Music, and Community

Thrush Family

September is NICU Awareness Month, a time to recognize the families who spend their hardest days inside hospital walls, relying on the care of doctors and nurses and the support of each other. For Bonney Lake’s Thrush family, the NICU became an unexpected stop on their journey, and one that now offers a reason to celebrate.

James Thrush was born full-term and healthy. But after three days without a diaper change, his parents, Alicia and Andy, knew something was wrong. Each feeding caused James’ belly to swell, and they rushed him to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital’s Emergency Department. There, pediatric emergency physician Dr. Berdan delivered the difficult news: James’ bowel had perforated.

Emergency surgery confirmed Hirschsprung’s disease, a rare condition where the nerves that control bowel function are missing. James was admitted to the NICU, where nurses quickly nicknamed him “the toddler in the NICU” because he was so much bigger than the preemies around him. For 24 days, Alicia and Andy leaned on the NICU nurses’ humor and the support of other families facing their own challenges. James endured three additional GI surgeries, including the placement of an ostomy bag that allowed him to finally go home.

Since then, the journey has continued. In all, James has had seven surgeries, the first four were lifesaving, and the next three were to restore function. “He’s better,” Andy Thrush shared. “He had his last surgery in July, and that was the big one to connect him all up. It’s been a long road and continues with weekly checkups, but he’s doing better.”

Now 16 months old, James has made incredible progress, graduating from ostomy care to using his own body naturally. Recently, he took his very first steps in Piper’s Playroom, a donor-funded space at Mary Bridge where kids can play and heal. That moment, captured on video, is a joyful reminder of how far he’s come.

The Bonney Lake High School Band showing their support for Baby James. Photo credit: Izumi Jorden "Zi" Taijeron @ijctmedia

The Bonney Lake community has shown their support as well. At Bonney Lake High School, students held up a handmade poster reading “Good Luck Baby James” with a heart. For many of them, it was more than just a kind gesture, Mr. Thrush had been their band teacher only a few years earlier, and now they had the chance to send encouragement back to him and his family.

James’ story is especially close to home because of his dad, Andy Thrush, known to many as “Mr. Thrush”, who has taught middle school band and jazz band for years. For countless students, he has been a favorite teacher and a steady influence. Now, it’s his family’s story that inspires hope across the community.

While there isn’t a GoFundMe for the Thrush family, there are ways to support the cause. Mary Bridge’s Child Life team, the same group who created Piper’s Playroom, keeps an Amazon Wish List with toys and supplies that bring joy to children in treatment. Donations of new items help brighten hospital days for families like the Thrushes and so many others.

As we mark NICU Awareness Month, Baby James’ first steps remind us that healing is possible, even after the most uncertain beginnings, and that a community’s love can make the journey a little lighter.