Child's Birth Year
2022

State/Province/Territory
Arizona

NICU Hospital for my journey
Banner Tucson

My NICU Graduate's Journey
My NICU graduate was born at 32 weeks and spent 42 days there. She had such a hard time learning how to eat and just couldn’t grasp it. We could tell she was a strong and bright girl since she was born; I guess the nurses and doctors were surprised she had her eye opened as soon as she was born. She was able to get her arms and legs out of swaddles as soon as she was wrapped up. Now as a 2.5 year old she is one of the brightest girls many people love. She uses sentences when she talks for example telling me “ good job mommy, I am so proud of you, give me five!”. She wakes up singing me super happy every day. This little bean brightens everyone’s day and surprises people that never really liked kids, how much they love and enjoy her. She loves to dance, sing, and help me clean when she’s pulling the vacuum out. She also loves being in the water, building things with blocks and seeing her friends at day care. She has the biggest heart and the brightest smile people say, I couldn’t agree more.

What makes you proud of you NICU graduate?
Everything she has accomplished makes me proud. She has excelled in speech and has done thing that she shouldn’t be doing at her age. She is the most helpful 2.5 years old I have seen, the sweetest and one that loves to show love with hugs and kisses. She learned to potty train by 2 years old and has just blown our minds with how smart she is. She can speak Spanish and English and understands both equally. She’s already showing what a great big sister she will be to her little sister coming in July. We cannot wait for them to meet each other.

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
5lbs 1 ounce

Weeks Gestation
32 weeks

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