Child's Birth Year
2021

State/Province/Territory
Pennsylvania

NICU Hospital for my journey
Lehigh Valley Reilly Children's Hospital

My NICU Graduate's Journey
Madison was born at 26 weeks gestation when her mother suffered a uterine abruption, thus beginning our NICU journey. Despite all odds, Madison survived that ordeal but was very fragile with paper-thin skin. We had to wait until she was 10 days old until we could finally hold her for the first time. For months, only one parent could hold her, one time per day. A few weeks into her NICU journey, Madison’s stools stopped working and her stomach started to swell…she was diagnosed with a devastating disease called Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC), which carries a 50% mortality rate. After rounds of antibiotics things seemed to have gotten better, but 2 weeks later she would develop NEC for a second time and had a very grim prognosis. Seeing her tiny body double in size from swelling, seeing her trying to cry in pain but unable to do so with her ventilator tubes, it was more than any parent could take. She received a life-saving surgery to remove 30cm of her intestines. While the long-term affects of that disease remain unknown, we are so thankful she survived. Our NICU journey was filled with love and gratitude, crippling fear and guilt, and a sense of community and thanks for our medical team!

What makes you proud of you NICU graduate?
Madison is a 2 time NEC survivor, a disease that is extremely fatal in babies, especially premature babies. She endured numerous PICC lines, tubes, ventilators, ostomies, etc. She has developmental delays/disabilities and has been in physical and speech therapies, but continues to work every day to improve and learn. It's a beautiful thing to watch her grow and I'm immensely proud of her determined spirit with a heart of gold.

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
2lbs. 1.2oz

Weeks Gestation
26 Weeks

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