By Anna Grace Moore
Photos by Lisa Cheek
Faith is a funny thing. While one cannot see it, his belief in the unseen–a resounding trust often in a higher power–characterizes much of the answers humanity develops for life’s most puzzling questions.
Mountain Brook residents Lane and Kathryn Hagan’s testimony is rooted in trusting the Lord. Despite never getting answers to one of their lives’ biggest trials surrounding the life of their eldest child, Libby, they continue to have faith in Jesus and trust in His plan.
When Libby was born nine years ago, she was rushed to the NICU for what the doctors would later diagnose as pulmonary hypertension. Kathryn had no known complications during pregnancy or birth, so this came as quite a shock to the new parents.
It took Libby’s doctors three days to diagnose her condition, and even hours after she was born, doctors told Lane and Kathryn that she may not survive.
“On her 12th day of life, they gave her a 100-times overdose of insulin that would have killed her had she not been intubated that day,” Lane says. “They starved her brain of sugar for about 18 hours, which caused catastrophic brain injury, cerebral palsy, likely epilepsy and a laundry list of problems that have plagued her most of her life.”
The hospital experienced a system-wide failure in Libby’s care. First, the pharmacy only had adult-strength insulin on hand and were diluting it to meet Libby’s quantities; secondly, none of the staff members had insulin labeled as a high-risk drug.
Although the prescription was written correctly, the pharmacists sent back an adult-strength dose, not checking to make sure it was diluted for an infant. The nurse who pushed the drug also failed to check the medicine, resulting in Libby’s brain injury and near-death experience.
Prior to this near-fatal overdose, Libby had been receiving daily doses of insulin. Lane says every morning he would call the NICU for an update on Libby, and one morning, he noticed the nurse frantically dodging his questions on the other end of the line.
Lane and his father-in-law went up to visit the NICU and saw the unit swamped with medical professionals; yet, no one could tell him what was going on. Several hours later, he and Kathryn were pulled into a meeting that would forever change the trajectory of their lives.
The neonatologist on staff explained Libby’s insulin injection had been mismanaged, resulting in her inability to walk, talk, eat or even hold her head up on her own for the rest of her life. Libby, whose life expectancy was then only three months, spent a total of 39 days in the NICU.
“We spent two years in litigation against the hospital because of her injury,” Lane says. “In August of 2016, we settled the case. That medical trust set up Libby for all the needs she would ever have. I never thought we’d catch up financially from the bills of her early days.”
Just as Libby’s life expectancy grew, the financial burden of paying for her medications, therapies, adaptive equipment and more grew, too. While insurance covered a portion of her medical expenses, there were still copays to pay.
Kathryn had to quit her job to be a full-time caregiver–a role she does not take for granted–and Lane struggled to make ends meet, juggling the mountain of expenses stacking up every day. It was not until the family received Libby’s medical trust that they were able to breathe financially.
However, the medical trust was not the only silver lining from the Hagans’ lawsuit.
“The hospital changed the way they diluted insulin and sent it up to the NICU,” Lane says. “It had to be done differently than the way they did it for Libby. When we signed everything and the settlement was finalized, we made sure Libby’s Laws were instituted. I have not heard of any other insulin issues or children being harmed at that hospital since we were there.”
Lane says even after Libby’s Laws were instituted, he still felt God tugging on his heart to take Libby’s story a step further.
“I always knew in my career that I wanted to give back,” Lane says. “In the beginning of 2020, I started this idea of how to give back–the birth of Libby’s Friends. I called Libby’s very first early intervention physical therapist, who said, ‘If you can do this, you’ll be a God-send to so many people.’”
In August 2020–four years after settling their case–Lane and Kathryn created Libby’s Friends, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to relieving financial burdens for families of children with special needs. In 2023 alone, the nonprofit raised more than $422,000 and awarded 241 grants throughout Alabama, and as of March 1, 2024, the nonprofit has raised more than $90,000 and awarded 60 grants.
“We have grown because of word-of-mouth recommendations from therapists, friends or families within the special needs community,” Emily Clifford, vice president of Libby’s Friends, says. “I feel that when a community takes care of the people who need help the most, everyone benefits.”
In fall 2023, Vestavia Hills High School’s student government association chose Libby’s Friends as the school’s charity of choice. The students ended up raising more than $132,000 in just a few short months.
Not long after did the Alabama Disability Conference award the Hagan family as the “family of the year” for making an impact in the special needs community.
“More of the ‘why’ that gets me going each and every day is each time I’m able to talk to a family in need,” Lane says. “Everybody has a unique story. Not everybody has a lot of people in their corner. I want to not just be the financial resource, but also someone who listens to parents and gives advice and connects people with other foundations that can help beyond what we do.”
While the community’s support has been nothing short of miraculous, Lane says one of the biggest miracles in his life is not just that Libby has defied all odds, but also that his faith has been restored in miracles.
Over the years, Libby has been hospitalized numerous times for near-death experiences including stints with septic shock, pancreatitis, pneumonia and more. In November 2023, one of Libby’s lungs collapsed, and the palliative care team explained if they were to intubate, Libby would spend many painful months recovering if she were to even survive.
Lane and Kathryn chose not to intubate, praying that if this were Libby’s time, the Lord would call her home easily and painlessly. God, however, had other plans–Libby made a full recovery in two weeks without having to be intubated.
“Lane and Kathryn operate as the purest examples of servant leaders,” Emily says. “If they can turn one of the worst moments in their life into this incredibly impactful passion project, I can do my part in making sure we continue to help as many families in this state as possible.”
Emily, who used to be neighbors with the Hagans before joining Libby’s Friends, says she was inspired by Lane and Kathryn’s resilient faith in the Lord and fervent desire to serve special needs families. Their character speaks volumes, which is why Emily believes Libby’s Friends has grown so successfully.
“I’ve learned to view our story as an opportunity to share about Libby and to share about God and what faith can do,” Lane says. “Libby is perfect in her abilities and her ways. I am a better person because of her.”
Lane says he doesn’t have a great answer for why bad things seem to happen to innocent people. He does not know why the Lord allowed Libby to endure so much, either.
Even still, he believes that Libby’s story is one of hope–one that will inspire many to bless an underserved community. If through their suffering more people come to know Jesus, Lane says he will never stop sharing the miracle that is Libby Hagan.
To learn more about Libby’s Friends, visit libbysfriends.org.
Get Involved
Those wishing to become involved with Libby’s Friends can begin by following the nonprofit on Facebook and Instagram @libbysfriends. Every month the nonprofit hosts events in which the public is invited to participate. Those interested in volunteering can contact libbysfriends@gmail.com. Anyone with a willing heart is welcome to join the cause.
We’re Here for YOU.
“Through no fault of their own, there are families out there that kind of fall through the cracks. They can’t get everything they need through the healthcare system. They can’t get everything they need through the justice system. The mission of Libby’s Friends is to pick out a few families every year that really need help with special needs kids and step in and say, ‘We’re here for you.’”
-Jamie Moncus, Former Chairman of the Board at Libby’s Friends
