Child's Birth Year
2018

State/Province/Territory
South Carolina

NICU Hospital for my journey
Children’s Hospital of Georgia

My NICU Graduate's Journey
Silas is an ex 27 weeker who spent 245 days in the nicu. He came home on total life support - trach, vent, oxygen, and feeding tube - but his smile quickly warmed the hearts of so many. His g-tube was removed just before he turned 3 and his trach was removed shortly after he turned 3. Today he is 5 with no extra medical equipment and living his best, happiest life! He is so eager to learn and the hardest worker I know. He has been in therapies his whole and always shows up ready to put in work. Due to apraxia, he uses an AAC and even though he’s not old enough for school yet, he’s already mastered most kindergarten goals/curriculum. He makes strides daily in his speech. The ventilation he requires early in life did lead to lung disease (CLD/BPD) and his lungs get stronger every year.

What makes you proud of you NICU graduate?
His love of life and thirst for knowledge have always been so inspiring to me. He lives life with the most contagious smile and absolutely loves to learn. He’s a bookworm and started reading words at 3! His odds were incredibly slim even after 8 months in the NICU and he’s been through countless procedures, but he is the happiest kid I’ve ever known.

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
1 lb 8 oz

Weeks Gestation
27 Weeks

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