Bad Pants Open Patient Family Story

When first-time mom, Shawna Keyes, unexpectedly went into labor at just 26 weeks on Mother’s Day, she had no time to prepare for the journey ahead. No hospital bag. No decorated nursery. Not even a baby shower. But what Shawna and her husband, Joeseph, did have was a name for their son — Asher — meaning “fortunate, blessed, happy one.” And despite the uncertainty ahead, that name would prove prophetic.

Small steps, big victories

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Asher was born weighing just 1 lb. 6.9 oz. He was the youngest patient in Texas Children’s NICU at the time and couldn’t breathe on his own.

“Everything was a milestone,” Shawna recalls. “Learning that he could hear … that he could see … seeing his beautiful face for the first time without the CPAP mask that had helped him breathe … every tiny step was a victory.”

During Asher’s 103-day NICU stay, he made remarkable progress. His first toy — a teddy bear named Rocket, gifted by his grandfather from an airport gift shop — became his constant companion. Even today, Rocket remains one of his best buddies.

Now 7 years old, Asher is a thriving second grader. He loves art, science, reading, and bird-watching. He swims, builds with Legos, and hopes to begin learning Spanish soon. Despite his small stature, his personality fills the room.

From NICU mom to mentor

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Once a NICU mom struggling to find her footing, Shawna is now a guiding light for others. She works with Hand to Hold as a Family Support Specialist at Texas Children’s, supporting NICU families at the Main Campus and The Woodlands. Hand to Hold is a national non-profit providing personalized support before, during, and after a NICU stay to help ensure families thrive. At Texas Children’s, the program is entirely funded by proceeds from the Bad Pants Annual Golf Tournament.

Shawna loves her job and is grateful for the opportunity to help families cope during one of the most challenging times of their lives. She dons her signature green Hand to Hold polo shirt with pride, taking each day and each family as they come. “When I first approach a family in the NICU, I say to them, ‘When you see this green shirt, you can let your shoulders down,’” Shawna says. “I’m here to listen and help, because I’ve been where you are now.”

Shawna’s desire to support other NICU families didn’t stop there. As an avid reader to Asher from the day he was born, she realized no children’s books reflected the NICU experience. Asher, who began reading at age two, loved stories, but none captured the world he had lived through. Determined to change that, Shawna wrote The Adventure of Asher and Rocket, a beautifully illustrated storybook told from Asher’s perspective. The book offers comfort, encouragement, and a powerful reminder that even the smallest steps forward are filled with strength.

Celebrating the journey

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The Keyes-Edmonson  family is proud to be the 2025 Bad Pants Open Featured Family. “To be part of Bad Pants this year feels like we’ve come full circle. We were once a family in crisis. Now we get to celebrate how far Asher has come and support other families still in the fight.”

Thanks to generous supporters like you, families like the Keyes-Edmonson find exceptional care at Texas Children’s and a future worth celebrating.