Child's Birth Year
2015

State/Province/Territory
Georgia

NICU Hospital for my journey
Children’s Hospital of Georgia

My NICU Graduate's Journey
Born on a holiday weekend after mommy spent 3 weeks in the hospital on bed rest. He spent 7 months, celebrated Halloween through Easter in his own corner suite because he was the sickest baby for the majority of his stay. We were told by one of the attending neonatologists that on a scale of 1-10 of surviving - death, that our son was a 9.5. He had his first surgery at 8 days old for a bowel perforation and spent the next 4 months with a poop bag until he reached 4 pounds so he could have it reversed. He developed grade 4 brain bleeds that resulted in Hydrocephalus. He couldn’t have a shunt put in until he had his bowel closed so they had to keep putting temporary reservoirs in his head so they could tap it to remove the CSF. This lead to a weird fungal infection that kept coming back, leading to 10 brain surgeries by the time he was discharged. He was very popular around the hospital due to all the specialists that had to be consulted. All of the nurses loved him and would come visit him even if they were in the other nursery. His journey was long and like riding the worst rollercoaster ever, but he beat the odds and showed all of us that he was a fighter!

What makes you proud of you NICU graduate?
His strength and stubbornness that kept him alive in the NICU is still just as strong now 8 years later! He works so hard to overcome all obstacles that come his way. Despite having Cerebral Palsy, Hydrocephalus, Epilepsy, and being nonverbal, this miracle baby has shown us what a true fighting spirit and absolute pure joy looks like! He communicates his own way and can be the most lovable boy. He loves to play and laugh with his daddy and continues to blow us away with his progress physically, cognitively, and emotionally! He loves school and is a social butterfly! He’s still a ladies man, except instead of nurses, now he’s got teachers spoiling and loving him!

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
1 lb, 15 oz

Weeks Gestation
26 Weeks

Time spent in the NICU (Specify Day, Month, or Year)
213 Days