Child's Birth Year
2005

State/Province/Territory
Virginia

NICU Hospital for my journey
Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughters

My NICU Graduate's Journey
So our daughter was emergency c-sectioned out at 35 with them finding lymphatic fluid in her chest cavity. She had three chest tubes and was intubated for 5 weeks. I didn’t even hold her until about two weeks old. We were told she would need a shunt surgery to survive and even with it might only live to see age one or two. But after her care team meeting we went back with the chaplain and prayed over her and the following day her levels started dropping and within a week was extubated and a week after that we were taking her home.

What makes you proud of you NICU graduate?
Her strength and tenacity. Since her discharge life for her hasn’t been easy and she has had 7 eye surgeries. She has never given up though and always works so hard no matter how hard the task. One is example is the process of getting into the army and getting the through bootcamp she caught all the illness and has multiple injuries but almost two years in still strives to be her best!!

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
7 lbs

Weeks Gestation
35 Weeks

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