Child's Birth Year
2021

State/Province/Territory
Georgia

NICU Hospital for my journey
Wellstar Kennestone and Scottish Rite

My NICU Graduate's Journey
Demi was a prolapsed cord and was born at 26 weeks at 1lb 14oz. She had a grade 4 bleed on the left side of her brain, double pulmonary hemorrhage, hypertension and a slew of other issues. After our first stay of 3 1/2 months we were able to take her home and the same day she aspirated and we took her straight to CHOA, where she was readmitted to the NICU for another month due to being OPMS. We were told that she would likely never come home with us and IF she did we were in for a slew of health and cognitive disabilities. She will be 3 on June 2 and I’m proud to say we are specialist free! Not only does she NOT have underlying health issues but she is 99% in ALL categories. She has the vocabulary of a 5 year old, no physical or mental disabilities and she is 50lbs, 41 in tall and is THRIVING. However due to the brain bleed she is nearsighted in her left eye and perfect in the other. We’re correcting it with glasses and she seems to be doing very well. I had just lost my mom and Demi is an only child so not only is she a LITERAL miracle but she’s my saving grace 💜

What makes you proud of you NICU graduate?
She is so smart, funny, outgoing and NEVER meets a stranger. She dances to every beat of any song she hears. She is so affectionate and caring always cognitive to other’s emotions and has not only EXCEEDED the expectations of EVERYONE in the medical field but has continued to exceed expectations every single day. She is know at Kennestone as Demi J but also carries the title of “the miracle baby” “bow baby” and QUEEN D! There’s NOTHING she can’t do. She is a true warrior in every sense of the word!!

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
1lb 14 oz

Weeks Gestation
26 weeks

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