Child's Birth Year
2024

State/Province/Territory
Alabama

NICU Hospital for my journey
Grandview Medical Center

My NICU Graduate's Journey
At 24 weeks 4 days, I went into labor, unknowingly. When I arrived at the hospital at 11:30pm, I’d already dilated 4 centimeters. I was told I would be delivering my baby that night. Terrified, I immediately went into prayer. Shortly after being moved, I was told I’d dilated to 8 centimeters. My room immediately filled with hospital staff preparing to deliver my baby boy and take him to the NICU. At 2:57am, with only 20 seconds of an epidural, my sweet Wyatt entered this world with one push.

He had many ups and downs, including fighting a fatal infection and overcoming it. He stayed on a ventilator tube for most of his stay due to his lungs not fully developing. He had a few setbacks coming off the ventilator, but he finally made it to room air a few weeks before graduating.

We spent 122 days in the NICU, visiting every day and at one point I lived in his room until having to return to work. He came home on his 4 month birthday and it was the second best day of my life, the first being when he was born. We had an amazing team of nurses and doctors, because of their skills and Wyatt’s will to fight, I have a thriving baby boy, that will be turning 6 months old the end of February. I love him with every breath I take and thank God for him everyday.”

What makes you proud of you NICU graduate?
I am so proud of how far Wyatt has come. He amazes us every day. He’s loves to laugh and play. He dances to music, and loves talking. I am so happy he is finally enjoying tummy time and holding his head steady. I’m proud of how well he’s thriving each day and growing. Being born at 1 lb 6 oz, I am elated to announce he’s now 13 lbs 7 oz. He’s 8 months and just has a personality of his own.

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
640 grams

Weeks Gestation
24 weeks

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