Child's Birth Year
2021

State/Province/Territory
Florida

NICU Hospital for my journey
Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies

My NICU Graduate's Journey
Liam was born fighting. From the moment he entered the world, nothing was simple or easy. We were told there was a brain bleed. Then came the lung cysts—large and dangerous. He was intubated, hooked to machines I couldn’t pronounce, and covered in tubes that seemed too big for his tiny body. He needed constant oxygen. His chest rose and fell with help from a ventilator, not from his own strength. He had chest tubes to drain fluid, lines in his belly, wires everywhere. The monitors beeped nonstop, each sound triggering a fresh wave of anxiety.

Every day felt like a lifetime. We sat next to his isolette, afraid to hope too much but unable to stop loving him with everything we had. Nurses became family. We learned how to read machines, to decipher blood gas numbers, to ask questions no parent should ever have to learn to ask.

At just a few weeks old, Liam went into surgery for a lobectomy—they removed part of his lung. Handing him over to the surgical team was the most terrifying moment of our lives. But he made it. He kept going. Through setbacks, infections, and long nights, he held on.

116 days. That’s how long we lived inside the NICU. When we finally walked out with him in our arms, monitors silenced and wires gone, it didn’t feel real.

But Liam is real. His strength is real. And every single day with him is a reminder that miracles still happen.

What makes you proud of you NICU graduate?
What makes me proud of my NICU graduate is the strength he continues to show every single day. Liam lives with Cerebral Palsy, and while his journey didn’t end when we left the NICU, he meets every challenge with determination and grace. He works hard in therapy—occupational, physical, and speech—pushing through discomfort, frustration, and fatigue without ever losing his spark. Tasks that come easily to others take tremendous effort for him, but he never backs down. His smile lights up even the hardest days, and his laughter is pure magic. I’m proud of his grit, his heart, and the joy he brings into every room.
His strength isn’t loud; it’s quiet, steady, and unshakable. I’m proud of his courage, his joy, and the way he greets the world with curiosity despite all he’s been through. He is living proof that the smallest fighters are often the strongest.

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
788 g

Weeks Gestation
24 Weeks

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