Child's Birth Year
2013

State/Province/Territory
Michigan

NICU Hospital for my journey
St. Joseph's Hospital - Tucson, Arizona

My NICU Graduate's Journey
Clark's sister had been born prematurely due to Intrauterine Growth Restriction 3 years prior, so they paid close attention to me all through his pregnancy. At 32 weeks, he was diagnosed with IUGR as well and they began bedside and regular monitoring. 3 weeks later, during an NST, he started having major decelerations, so they performed an emergency c-sections. He came out crying at just under 3.5 lbs and 17 inches long. He was able to latch beginning on day 1 and spent 3 weeks in the NICU as a feeder grower, never even needing oxygen support. He was discharged exclusively breastfed and his measurement percentiles quickly flew past 50th percentile!
Today at 11, Clark has hit all of his milestones on time and has no lingering health concerns.

What makes you proud of you NICU graduate?
We have seen Clark's resilience and calm demeanor follow him from those early NICU days to today. He has and continues to defy odds simply because he doesn't acknowledge there is an alternative. He is good-natured and kind and we know that no matter where he goes in life, he will succeed.

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
3 lb, 7 oz

Weeks Gestation
35 Weeks

Time spent in the NICU (Specify Number of Days, Months, or Years)
21 Days