Child's Birth Year
2012

State/Province/Territory
Illinois

NICU Hospital for my journey
OSF St. Francis Medical Center

My NICU Graduate's Journey
Michael was born August 12th 2012. He was 1lb 2oz and 12 inches long then dropped to half a pound on the helicopter ride from Moline, IL TO OSF In Peoria, IL. I had to stay behind because I had an emergency C-section. So my mother, brother, and grandfather rode to meet him. They didn’t think he would make it. BUT GOD!! Michael spent 5 months there. During those 5 months he endured grade 3 and 4 bleeding on both sides of the brain, MERSA & staph, he has chronic lung disease, he had to have a clip inserted to close I believe a valve close to his heart. There were times he couldn’t go to the restroom so he was blown up like a balloon, something no parent should have to see. Laser eye surgery. After everything, Feeding tubes and oxygen is what he had to come home with after 5 months. And in a month he was off everything! God is sooo good! Michael is my miracle baby. OSF ST FRANCIS IN PEORIA, IL was such a blessing and he had such amazing doctors and nurses. He went through so much and I couldn’t have gotten through it without my family and the NICU family.

What makes you proud of you NICU graduate?
He has overcame soooo much! He continues to push through barriers and with a smile on his face. Making everyone smile and laugh along the way.

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
1 lb 2 oz

Weeks Gestation
23 Weeks

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