Child's Birth Year
2024

State/Province/Territory
Texas

NICU Hospital for my journey
DHR Health

My NICU Graduate's Journey
Rafael was born at 32 weeks and 3 days 4lbs 15oz when he started his NICU journey. He spent 3 days in level 3 before he was moved to level 2 spent almost a week at level 2 and then moved to level 1. He went from being intubated to breathing on his own in just a couple of days . Me and my husband would read The Very Hungry Caterpillar to him everyday when he transitioned from feeding tube to bottle feeding. The days were long having to go from our baby in the NICU to coming home to be parents to our older children. Rafael had 2 older brothers waiting for him to come home. Rafael everyday showed progress in everything he did and met all his goals his dr had set for him . We had been told that it would be anywhere from 4-6 weeks for us to bring him home. But in 2 weeks he met his goals and was doing things on his own which we were so relieved although we knew our baby was in good hands we wanted our family to whole and have our boys together. We are grateful for all the help and love and attention the nurses at DHR gave us and helping us bring our baby home.

What makes you proud of you NICU graduate?
From a very complicated pregnancy our son was beating the odds. Showing us the worrier and the fire inside that drives him. Seeing our baby the moment he was born seeing him so small and fragile to seeing him becoming his own little person and where his story began our baby boy has come a long way.

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
4lbs 15 oz

Weeks Gestation
32 weeks 3 days

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