Be Fun, Brave, Loving, Strong Like Gracie

Gracie was born at 24 weeks to Coach Mike Mackintosh and his wife Britni in May of 2020. Born with underdeveloped lungs and two brain bleeds, the odds were against Gracie. She spent 160 days in the NICU and would go on to need oxygen for the first year of her life and have chronic lung disease. The brain bleeds resolved on their own but resulted in Gracie’s dyskinetic cerebral palsy and epilepsy. She uses a wheelchair and her parents to move around, glasses to see, and a feeding tube for hydration and seizure medications.

There are few things Gracie loves more than going to her Dada’s football games and cheering with the cheerleaders. Our world has blended with the football program because of Coach Mack’s passion and love for the team. Gracie loves going to practices, playing blocks with the guys, and coaching the players. We see how the strength of Gracie is powerful and reaches everyone who witnesses her. We hope that if you’re able to buy a shirt or even if you’re not, that you’ll tell people about Gracie and be a part of building communities that are inclusive of people with disabilities. Thank you for loving our girl!

  • Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (CP) is a type of CP where a child has involuntary, uncontrolled movements instead of—or in addition to—stiffness or weakness. It happens because of damage to the basal ganglia (a part of the brain that helps control and coordinate movement).

    Here’s a simple breakdown:

    • Main feature: Movements that the child doesn’t mean to make.

    • Types of movements:

      • Dystonia → twisting, repetitive movements or unusual postures.

      • Athetosis → slow, writhing movements, especially in the hands, arms, feet, or face.

      • Chorea → quick, jerky movements.

    • Muscle tone: Can change a lot—sometimes stiff, sometimes floppy.

    • Impact: Makes it harder to sit, walk, eat, or talk because the body won’t always do what the child wants.

    • Intelligence & senses: Often unaffected, though communication can be tricky if speech muscles are involved.

  • Epilepsy

    • A neurological condition where a person has repeated, unprovoked seizures.

    • Caused by abnormal bursts of electrical activity in the brain.

    Seizures

    • A seizure is when brain cells (neurons) send too many signals at once.

    • This can affect movement, senses, behavior, or awareness.

    Focal (Partial) Seizures

    • Start in one specific area of the brain (not the whole brain at once).

    • Two main types:

      1. Focal aware seizures (simple partial):

        • Person stays awake and aware.

        • May feel unusual sensations: déjà vu, tingling, strange tastes/smells, jerking in one body part.

      2. Focal impaired awareness seizures (complex partial):

        • Awareness is altered or lost.

        • May stare blankly, do repeated movements (lip smacking, hand rubbing), or seem confused.

  • A G-tube (gastrostomy tube) is a small tube that goes directly into the stomach through the belly. Doctors place it when someone can’t safely eat or drink enough by mouth.

    Here’s the breakdown:

    What it is

    • A soft tube inserted through the abdominal wall into the stomach.

    • Can be temporary or long-term.

    Why it’s used

    • For kids or adults who have troubles

      • Swallowing safely (risk of choking/aspiration)

      • Getting enough nutrition by mouth

      • Maintaining weight or hydration

    • Common in conditions like cerebral palsy, prematurity, neurological disorders, or after certain surgeries.

  • Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is an eye condition that can happen in premature babies.

    What it is

    • The retina (the back layer of the eye that senses light) isn’t fully developed in preemies.

    • In ROP, the blood vessels in the retina grow in an abnormal way.

    • This can sometimes pull on the retina and cause vision problems or even retinal detachment.

    Who is at risk

    • Babies born too early (before 31 weeks).

    • Babies born very small (under ~3 pounds / 1500g).

    • Babies who need oxygen therapy or intensive care.

  • When a baby is born too early (before 37 weeks of pregnancy), they are considered premature. Premature babies often need extra medical care because their bodies and organs are still developing. That’s why they may spend time in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit).

    Prematurity

    • Late preterm: 34–36 weeks

    • Moderately preterm: 32–34 weeks

    • Very preterm: <32 weeks

    • Extremely preterm: <28 weeks

    Premature babies may have challenges with:

    • Breathing (lungs are immature)

    • Feeding (trouble sucking/swallowing)

    • Temperature regulation (can’t stay warm well)

    • Fighting infections (weaker immune system)

    • Growth and development

    NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)

    A special hospital unit designed for premature or sick newborns.

    Common things in the NICU:

    • Incubators/isolette: warm, protected beds to keep baby’s temperature stable.

    • Monitors: track heart rate, breathing, oxygen, and blood pressure.

    • Feeding tubes: if the baby can’t yet feed by mouth.

    • IV lines: for fluids, nutrition, or medications.

    • Respiratory support: oxygen, CPAP, or ventilators for breathing.

About Gracie