Child's Birth Year
2009

State/Province/Territory
Illinois

NICU Hospital for my journey
Advocate Lutherans General Childrens Hospital

My NICU Graduate's Journey
Kylee was born a full term 2 weeks over due, I had a complication free pregnancy, during labor and delivery she meconium aspirated which caused her severe pneumonia, leading to collapsed lungs. She was transferred between 3 hospitals within 24hrs at 4 days old because last resort was ECMO (life support) in order to give her body any fighting chance at healing due to the severity of the pneumonia. The doctor could not give us a time frame of how long she would be on ECMO as it could be days to months! Kylee was off ECMO in 4 days! Which was a miracle because when she got to Lutherans she was the sickest baby they had in the NICU. The next Following weeks was to learn how to eat, holding body temperature, ect. 3 weeks later I was grateful to bring my baby home. After bringing her home I brought her to the pediatrician who happened to be the dr on call the night she was born. The first thing he said was, I could not stop thinking about this baby girl not knowing if she made it, and here she is. Healing but healthy. 8 months old was when her NICU follow up was at Lutherans and she walked into the office holding my
Fingers and No one could be believe she was the frail sick little baby who was On ECMO!

What makes you proud of you NICU graduate?
Her ambition for life! Her passion, and determination to succeed in everything she goes for! No matter what Life gives her she always finds her way back to the top. Shes a true fighter in life! Shes smart, beautiful, and a talented dancer whose not afraid to go for what she wants in life.

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
6 lbs 8 oz

Weeks Gestation
42 Weeks & 2 Days

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