Boaz Dov Wong was the infant son of Tony Award winning actor BD Wong and Richie Jackson. He was born on May 28, 2000, with his twin brother, Jackson Foo Wong. Boaz lived for only 90 minutes after birth.
His story is linked to family, surrogacy, and twin to twin transfusion syndrome. His brother also faced a hard start and spent months in the hospital. Their story later became part of BD Wong’s 2003 book, Following Foo: The Electronic Adventures of the Chestnut Man.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Boaz Dov Wong |
| Date of birth | May 28, 2000 |
| Date of death | May 28, 2000 |
| Parents | BD Wong and Richie Jackson |
| Twin brother | Jackson Foo Wong |
| Birth method | Surrogacy |
| Biological father | BD Wong |
| Egg donor | Sue, Richie Jackson’s sister |
| Birth place | Modesto, California |
| Pregnancy length | 28 weeks |
| Medical issue | Twin to twin transfusion syndrome |
| Time lived after birth | 90 minutes |
| Family memoir | Following Foo: The Electronic Adventures of the Chestnut Man |
| Memoir author | BD Wong |
| Memoir year | 2003 |
Who Was Boaz Dov Wong?
Boaz was one of two twin boys born to BD Wong and Richie Jackson in 2000. The couple chose surrogacy to start a family. BD Wong gave the sperm, and Richie Jackson’s sister, Sue, gave the eggs.
A surrogate carried the twins in Modesto, California. The babies were due later in the summer. They came much too early at only 28 weeks.
Boaz was born first. His brother, Jackson Foo Wong, was born soon after him. Boaz died after 90 minutes, while Jackson was moved to intensive care.
The family kept Boaz as part of their story. BD Wong spoke about both boys as his sons. He did not treat Boaz as a small part of Jackson’s story.
How Did the Family Use Surrogacy?
The family plan joined both sides of the couple. BD Wong was the birth father, and Sue, Richie Jackson’s sister, gave the eggs. A surrogate then carried the twins in California.
At that time, gay fathers using surrogacy were less common in public stories. Wong and Jackson spoke about how their family was formed. Their story later became part of talks about gay parents and family life.
The pregnancy became hard when doctors found twin to twin transfusion syndrome. This problem can happen when identical twins share one placenta. It can make blood flow unevenly between the babies.
This health problem changed the last part of the pregnancy. The twins came much earlier than planned. Both needed fast medical care after birth.
What Happened at the Birth of Boaz Dov Wong?
Boaz and Jackson Foo Wong were born on May 28, 2000. They were born at only 28 weeks. Boaz was the donor twin in the pregnancy.
This meant that too much blood moved from Boaz to his brother through shared blood vessels. Boaz was very weak at birth. He died 90 minutes later.
Jackson was also small and sick. Doctors moved him to the neonatal intensive care unit, also called the NICU. He later received care at UC San Francisco.
The family faced two feelings at once. They were grieving Boaz while hoping Jackson would live. This painful time later became a key part of BD Wong’s book.
Understanding Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome
Twin to twin transfusion syndrome, also called TTTS, can affect identical twins who share one placenta. Blood vessels in the placenta may link in an uneven way. This can change how much blood each baby gets.
One baby is called the donor twin. That baby sends too much blood to the other twin. The other baby is called the recipient twin.
The donor twin may have too little blood and too little fluid. The recipient twin may get too much blood. This can put stress on the heart.
Doctors can find TTTS during pregnancy with scans. Some cases need special care before birth. In this pregnancy, Boaz was the donor twin, while Jackson survived after a long hospital stay.
BD Wong as an Actor and Father
BD Wong, whose full name is Bradley Darryl Wong, was already a known stage actor before he became a father. He won a Tony Award for his role as Song Liling in M. Butterfly. The part made him well known on Broadway.
He later became famous on film and TV. His work includes Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, Oz, Jurassic Park, and Mr. Robot. Still, becoming a father changed his life in a new way.
During Jackson’s hospital stay, Wong sent email updates to friends and family. He used them to explain what was happening. The emails also helped him put his fear and grief into words.
He was dealing with deep loss while caring about Jackson’s health. He had lost one son and feared losing the other. That part of his life later became the heart of his memoir.
Richie Jackson and His Role in the Family
Richie Jackson was BD Wong’s longtime partner when the twins were born. He worked in the entertainment field as a talent agent. He later became known as a producer and manager.
Richie Jackson’s family also helped with the surrogacy plan. His sister Sue gave the eggs. BD Wong gave the sperm.
BD Wong and Richie Jackson later ended their relationship. Even so, both stayed active in Jackson Foo Wong’s life. They kept sharing the role of parent.
Richie Jackson later wrote Gay Like Me: A Father Writes to His Son. The book came out in 2020. He wrote it to Jackson and spoke about life, love, identity, and growing up.
Following Foo and the Memory of Boaz
After the twins were born, BD Wong began sending email updates. The emails told friends and family about Jackson’s health. They also shared what the family was going through.
Those emails later became the base for Wong’s 2003 memoir, Following Foo: The Electronic Adventures of the Chestnut Man. The book kept the direct feel of the old emails. It covered the birth, Boaz’s death, and Jackson’s hospital stay.
The word Foo in the title comes from Jackson Foo Wong. The name Chestnut Man was a family nickname for Jackson. Wong also wrote about life as a gay father.
Boaz remains a key part of the book. The story is not only about Jackson staying alive. It is also about losing one twin while hoping the other would survive.
Jackson Foo Wong and Life After the NICU
Jackson Foo Wong survived after about three months in intensive care. His first months were very hard. He needed close care before he was strong enough to leave the hospital.
As he grew, Jackson stayed close to both of his fathers. BD Wong and Richie Jackson remained part of his life after they split. Richie later married Jordan Roth, who also became part of the family.
Jackson later attended New York University. He has kept a much lower public profile than BD Wong. He did not build a public life around acting or fame.
His survival gives the family story another side. Both twins faced the same hard pregnancy. Yet only Jackson lived past the day of birth.
Why Does the Story of Boaz Dov Wong Still Matter?
Boaz is remembered because his story is about family, health, loss, and parenthood. His life was very short. Still, his birth changed the lives of his parents and brother.
His story also helps people understand TTTS. The medical term may sound cold or hard to grasp. The twins’ story shows how serious the condition can be.
The story also became part of talks about surrogacy and gay parents in the early 2000s. BD Wong and Richie Jackson shared their family story at a time when there were fewer public stories about gay fathers.
Most of all, the story shows how one family lived with grief and hope at the same time. Boaz was not forgotten after Jackson lived. His name stayed part of the family’s public story.
Final Thoughts
Boaz Dov Wong was born into a family that had planned with care for children. His birth on May 28, 2000, should have been a happy start for BD Wong and Richie Jackson. Instead, it became a day of both love and loss.
His twin brother, Jackson, survived after months in the NICU. BD Wong later wrote Following Foo about that time. Richie Jackson also wrote a later book to Jackson about life and identity.
Boaz lived for only 90 minutes. Even so, his place in the family is clear. His short life stayed part of the story his fathers later shared.
FAQs
Who was Boaz Dov Wong?
Boaz Dov Wong was the infant twin son of actor BD Wong and Richie Jackson. He was born through surrogacy on May 28, 2000, with his twin brother, Jackson Foo Wong.
How long did Boaz live?
Boaz lived for 90 minutes after his early birth at 28 weeks. His death was linked to problems from twin to twin transfusion syndrome.
What medical condition affected the twins?
The twins were affected by twin to twin transfusion syndrome, also called TTTS. It can cause uneven blood flow between twins who share one placenta.
Who is Jackson Foo Wong?
Jackson Foo Wong is Boaz’s surviving twin brother. He spent about three months in intensive care and later grew up with BD Wong and Richie Jackson as his parents.
What book did BD Wong write about the family?
BD Wong wrote Following Foo: The Electronic Adventures of the Chestnut Man in 2003. The book grew from emails he sent during Jackson’s long hospital stay and also covered the loss of Boaz.