Child's Birth Year
2012

State/Province/Territory
Texas

NICU Hospital for my journey
Good Shepherd Medical Center

My NICU Graduate's Journey
Levi was born 5 weeks early via emergency C-section due to pre-eclampsia. I had a panic attack and had to be put under while they did the surgery, so I didn't get to see him when they took him out. My husband said that was for the best because they quickly took him to the side and he was surrounded by nurses who were trying to make him breath and it was scary and tense. He finally started breathing and was taken immediately to the NICU. He weighed in at a whopping 3 lbs 4 oz and was 19 in long. His lowest weight was 2 lbs 7oz. We were blessed that he did not have any major health concerns and just needed to gain some weight and regulate his body temperature. He did have to spend some time under the blue lights due to jaundice as well. He spent 3 weeks in the NICU. Levi was nosey (and still in lol) and was always looking around from his incubator with his big blue eyes. His nurses just loved him and gave him so much attention. Once Levi hit the 5lbs mark, we had a 1 night trial run at the hospital and the nurses were so encouraging because we were terrified that we were expected to keep this precious, teeny, tiny baby alive. They showed how to bathe him, how to swaddle, etc. God bless those NICU nurses ❤️.

What makes you proud of you NICU graduate?
There is so much about Levi that I am proud of. He is kind, loving, super smart, he loves the Lord, and is just a bright light to everyone around him. Parents at school and church are always telling my husband and I how sweet and kind he is. He is an only child, but you wouldn't know that by watching how he interacts with other kids, especially the younger ones. He he so gentle and talks so sweetly to them. He give protective big brother vibes I guess, because little ones gravitate to him. I work with elderlt individuals with developmental & intellectual disabilities & my clients are always asking me to bring Levi by to see them. He is very atuned to their feelings and is always so loving and respectful to them. We are just so proud of our NICU grad 😊.

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
3 lbs 4 oz

Weeks Gestation
35 Weeks

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