Casen Hazlewood to Celebrate “Home Run For Life” with OKC Dodgers
Ponca City three-year-old overcame the odds at INTEGRIS Health
Casen Hazlewood appears to be a typical three-year-old.
He loves Bubble Guppies, cars and playing with his older sister Brynlee.
Unlike your average toddler however, Casen has been overcoming obstacles before he was even born.
He will be honored during the second INTEGRIS Health “Home Run For Life” of the 2022 OKC Dodgers baseball season May 27 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. “Home Run For Life” recognizes individuals in the community who have overcome a significant medical event with the help of their families, physicians and health care professionals. To symbolize the end of their battle against adversity, honorees take a home run “lap” around the bases during a pre-game ceremony.
Doctors determined Hazlewood had selective intrauterine growth restriction, a condition that stunted his development as his twin brother, Hudson, was getting most of the placental sharing.
Casen and Hudson were born May 6, 2019, after their mother, Kari underwent an emergency cesarean section surgery.
Casen weighed just 1 pound, 4 ounces at birth, as he was at just 26 weeks gestation.
Sadly, Hudson passed away unexpectedly from an infection just 12 days after his birth.
Soon after, Casen came down with the same infection. His parents feared the worst.
“There were multiple times we didn’t know if he was going to make it,” his father Donnie Hazlewood said.
Casen overcame the infection, just as he continues to overcome everything.
“I think he’s the toughest little kid I’ve ever seen,” Donnie said. “He’s been able to conquer and overcome so many things in his short life.”
Casen spent the first 154 days of his life at INTEGRIS Health Children’s and has undergone 14 surgeries.
His immune system is not as strong as an average kid his age. Just last August, he was hospitalized with a cold and was there until October.
“We are ready to go at a moment’s notice,” Donnie said. “A cold can put him in the hospital for a long time.”
The Hazlewoods have driven back and forth numerous times from their Ponca City home to Oklahoma City, staying in an RV most nights while their son has been in the hospital.
The family gushes about the loving and welcoming care they received at INTEGRIS Health Children’s.
“We think the world of them,” Donnie said. “We consider them some of our closest friends.”
A respiratory therapist spent many late hours with Casen so that Kari and Donnie could get some well-earned rest.
“To be able to have that close, loving care is something that we can’t thank them enough for,” Donnie said.
The doctors are hopeful Casen will get stronger and outgrow his frequent hospital visits.
Casen will be a big brother in September as the Hazlewoods will welcome a new member to the family.
There’s no doubt that INTEGRIS Health will see them through their latest transition, and the Hazlewoods couldn’t be happier about it.
“We found a second family,” Donnie said.
