Child's Birth Year
2018

State/Province/Territory
New York

NICU Hospital for my journey
Oishei Children's Hospital

My NICU Graduate's Journey
Summer was born at 27 weeks, she was a micro-preemie at just over a pound. The NICU saying two steps forward one step back was lived over and over as she learned to breathe with, and then without the respirator, and learned to eat and breathe at the same time. Over the course of the next three months she learned to do what most babies know how to do when they are born. For the next two years her amazing physical therapist helped her to reach her milestones, and her occupational therapist slowly introduced her to food textures and tastes. She is now a thriving 6 year old, participating in soccer, cheer team, piano, singing and ballet. She loves to read but most of all she loves to dance. She is joy pure and simple and we will be eternally grateful to everyone that participated in helping our Summer to shine.

What makes you proud of you NICU graduate?
Summer is full of life, and full of joy. She is achieving well above grade level in school. I guess the thing that makes me most proud of her is her caring kind behavior. She's the first to offer a hug, a smile, or a helping hand to someone who needs one. When we walk down the halls at school she is warmly greeted by students in all grades, she is a people person.

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
1.4 pounds

Weeks Gestation
27 weeks

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