Child's Birth Year
02/29/04

State/Province/Territory
North Carolina

NICU Hospital for my journey
Mission Hospital (Memorial Campus)

My NICU Graduate's Journey
Born 2/29/2004, a leap year baby, weighing 1 lb. 05 oz, at 24 weeks and 5 days. We were told he would not survive, his parent fought for him to live so he was put in NICU for 4 months and sent home on oxygen. He went back to hospital in a couple of months for surgery on several hernias. Matthew did great and came home to start his long journey with living with oxygen and rehab. Every day was a tough road for him, but he fought thru it with a smile on his face. He came off of the oxygen in a year's time. He had some unexpected episodes, around age 3 or 4 he started having seizures. Matthew was put on medication until he got older. Was held back a year in school so he could catch up to peer group. He was diagnosed with Autism spectrum and Aspergers. Started High school and worked hard to have good grades and got his first part-time job at 16 after school. His goal was to go to college. He was accepted at 5 colleges and graduated from High School May 2023 Cum laude and Beta club with honors. He goes to WCU major Electrical Engineering. Matthew will be starting his sophomore year in Aug 2024. This is his first time away on his own.


What makes you proud of you NICU graduate?
The Man he has Become. He believes in setting goals and achieving them. Always has a smile on his face, and very positive toward life. He has succeeded to overcome many obstacles in his life. He is not ashamed of his autism, and he makes others aware of it by explaining
what Autism is. He maintains very good grades in college, and is not boisterous. We are so blessed That God Blessed us with Matthew. He is kind and gentle, always believing in Honesty.

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
1lb, 5 oz

Weeks Gestation
24 Weeks, 5 Days

Time spent in the NICU (Specify Day, Month, or Year)
4 Months