Child's Birth Year
2022

State/Province/Territory
New York

NICU Hospital for my journey
Bernard & Millie Duker Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center

My NICU Graduate's Journey
Mooni was diagnosed with gastrochisis before she was born. Immediately after she was born she was rushed to the children’s hospital and immediately under went a procedure to put in a silo. She had her intestines on the outside of her body for two weeks before undergoing a surgery to put them back inside. The surgery failed and she would have to undergo two more surgeries, be put on an ostomy and wouldn’t be able to eat until she was three months old.

What makes you proud of you NICU graduate?
After being told by doctors that Mooni would go home on an ostomy, a feeding tube and probably wouldn’t leave for another 6 months, Mooni defied odds and started popping on her own, drinking all her bottles and showing strides in just two weeks. She spent three months in the nicu with little to no progress. Then one day she decided she was done, she surprised everyone around her and has no ties to her gastrochisis today, other then her scar. She continues to amazes us everyday with her resilience and sassiness. At just two years old she has shown strength and has little to no fears. We are so proud of you Mooni C!

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
4.1 lbs

Weeks Gestation
36 Weeks

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