Child's Birth Year
2020

State/Province/Territory
North Carolina

NICU Hospital for my journey
UNC Chapel Hill

My NICU Graduate's Journey
Brynlee’s journey is impossible to fit into words, but after being born at 25 weeks, 1lb 6oz, and 12.2 inches long…she has overcome many many obstacles! She had an 11 month long NICU stay, and we were able to FINALLY bring her home the week before her 1st birthday! Due to her premature lungs(chronic lung disease), she had many road bumps in her journey such as being intubated, ventilated, viruses, a rare kind of SVT which is when her heart rate is dangerously high and life saving medication had to be given. (She has grown out of this now!) She was also placed on heart & lung bypass called ECMO to allow her heart and lungs to rest for a bit. Once she was discharged, she came home with a Tracheostomy, 24/7 ventilator, supplemental oxygen, and Gtube dependent. Today, she is now eating/drinking 100% by mouth, breathing ALL on her own without any support, has surgery scheduled at the end of this month to have her Trach taken out, she’s walking, and talking, and a true miracle. She is also very smart. She knows her entire alphabet, numbers 1-10, and all of her primary colors. She loves anything pink (mostly Minnie Mouse), dressing up her baby dolls, loves to play with water of any kind, and of course get into everything like toddlers do.

What makes you proud of you NICU graduate?
We are so proud of our girl, for the strength and determination that she has no idea she has. She is incredibly brave, and amazes us more and more every single day.

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
1lb 6 oz

Weeks Gestation
25 Weeks

Time spent in the NICU (Specify Day, Month, or Year)
11 Months