Rosemount reaching out to baby Ronan

While other parents left the hospital with their newborn babies in tow, Erik and Nicole Packard had an empty bassinet at their Rosemount home.

One of their twin sons, Ronan, was born with a rare congenital diaphragmatic hernia, characterized by a hole in the diaphragm, the muscle that facilitates breathing. As a result, the liver and intestines get pushed out of place. In turn, they crowd the stomach, heart and lungs.

The diagnosis led to a harrowing time that changed the family's life. Now, eight months later, members of the community are stepping up to help Nicole and Eric, an Iraq war veteran, with their medical expenses.

Little Ronan's problem had gone undiagnosed until Nicole delivered the twins, Ronan and Wolfgang, through a Caesarean section on Nov. 15, 2010. Ronan needed emergency surgery to repair the diaphragmatic hernia.

Ronan was transferred from United and Children's hospitals in St. Paul to Children's Minneapolis. Meanwhile, the Packards were told his chances of surviving the surgery were slim to none.

Yet somehow Ronan pulled through.

"I believe God's hands were all over the operating room," Nicole said, calling him a "miracle baby."

Nicole's feelings at that point can't be put into words, she said. "Bringing home our miracle, the precious gift of life all bundled up in his car seat, it is indescribable," she said.

"The joy in my heart cannot be captured by words."

The events have been life-altering for the Packards, who have a 5-year-old daughter, Nadira. "It brought Erik and me together and with our children. Our priorities have shifted. We want to help people," she said.

Erik, who entered the military as a teenager, has endured all kinds of dangerous missions in Iraq and elsewhere. However, this experience was "more traumatic than any events in Iraq," he said.

"I'm grateful to the medical team that was able to save his life," said Erik. He's also been inspired to change fields: He wants to go into nursing.

"It's not something we think about because we're glad to have Ronan home," she said. But she admits that it's been tough to make ends meet. The

That's why some in the community are organizing fundraisers.

A bowling game, silent auction and bake sale from 3-6 p.m. on Saturday at Apple Place Bowling in Apple Valley will kick off the events.

Then during the July 30 Rosemount Leprechaun Days Parade, food and beverage sales at the judge's stand at 3335 W. 145th St. will benefit the Packards.

Next is an Italian dinner and bake sale from 4-7 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Rosemount VFW Post 9433.

Considering that the Packards are also a military family, "It's a small expression of our appreciation, especially when they're in need, because they've done so much for us and our country," Goodwin said.

Ronan still has a long way to go, and some additional health problems could emerge later on. But he's slowly learning how to move his thumbs and eat more.

Nicole and Erik are hopeful about his progress. After all, he's "defied expectations every step of the way," his mother said.