Nov 24, 2017 4 min read

Canonsburg has been holding its holiday light-up night for years. But this year, the smile of a sick 2-month-old baby will light up more of Canonsburg than the lights on the borough Christmas tree.

Noah Peniazek was born Sept. 20 in an emergency cesarean section. He had to be resuscitated at least twice and suffered a brain injury. His parents, Jessica and Josh Peniazek, who just moved to Canonsburg in June, had not expected to spend their holidays in the neonatal intensive care unit of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.

“We’ve been in the NICU for more than 50 days,” Jessica said.

Noah’s extended stay in the NICU, along with his birth complications, prompted the Canonsburg community to rally around him this Christmas season and raise money for the young family and their firstborn’s increasing medical bills.

“Jess’s sister started a GoFundMe page online, which has raised about $20,000,” said JR Gardner, with the Canonsburg Youth Network. “But that isn’t going to touch the bill for being in the NICU over 50 days.”

Gardner, who’s a neighbor of the Peniazeks, said the Youth Network is partnering with Canonsburg Chamber of Commerce and the borough to put on this year’s light-up night, which will have holiday food vendors, events and activities, including a tree-lighting from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 2. Canonsburg Mayor Dave Rhome said all of the proceeds from the event will go to Noah.

“What a wonderful way to begin your Christmas, by reaching in your pocket and giving to this family,” Rhome said.

Jessica said Noah’s complications were unexpected because she had a healthy pregnancy that went four days past her due date. When doctors at St. Clair Hospital in Mt. Lebanon started the process of inducing labor, Noah’s heart rate dropped. After the cesarean, Noah was put in an incubator and flown to Children’s Hospital.

“I only saw him for 30 seconds, not even,” Jessica said. “He went longer than 20 minutes without oxygen.”

Noah was diagnosed with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, or lack of oxygen and blood flow to the brain.

“He was seizing nonstop,” Jessica said. “Since he went without oxygen, it ruined his kidneys so he’s getting dialysis every day. He’s awake now. He does have a brain injury but we don’t know the extent of it until he’s about 2 years old.”

The couple visits their baby boy every day. Jessica is there from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and they have a camera set up so they can watch him in his NICU crib from their home each night. They anticipate Noah being in the NICU another four to six weeks.

“He’ll have a surgery next week to put a catheter in his stomach that will allow him to do the dialysis at home,” Jessica said. “I can’t wait to bring him home. Some days I can keep it together and some days I can’t.”

She said since Noah’s birth, her neighbors in Canonsburg, some they haven’t even met before, have brought them cards, food and gifts. She said they were grateful to be recipients of the light-up night fundraiser.

“I was really surprised just because we’re so new to the area,” she said.

Gardner, who’s the director of Canonsburg Armory Youth Center, held a candlelight prayer vigil at the center for Noah just after his birth.

“I have five kids of my own that are healthy and this is their first child,” Gardner said. “My heart just goes out to them.”

Gardner said he wants to help out the family as much as possible with the fundraiser.

“We’re mandated by God to love one another, so to me this is a simple act of love,” he said.

Rhome said people will be able to donate to the family at the event or at his office, the Chamber of Commerce or the Armory Youth Center.

Along with the fundraiser, the night will include a live nativity, carolers, food vendors, pictures with Santa, a train ride for children, horse and carriage rides, children’s games and face painting. West Pike Street will be closed during that time, and the tree in front of the municipal building will be lit.

“We’re expanding our horizons this year,” Rhome said. “It’s going to be a very special night in town.”