Child's Birth Year
2024

State/Province/Territory
Kentucky

NICU Hospital for my journey
Good Samaritan Hospital

My NICU Graduate's Journey
I was admitted to the hospital about a month before olive was born due to her being diagnosed with iugr (intrauterine growth restriction) meaning my placenta was no longer giving her all the nutrients she needed and she wasn’t growing anymore. Additionally she was diagnosed with absent end diastolic flow in the umbilical cord meaning the blood eventually was going to go backwards to her instead of forward. Due to her being so small and the blood flow issues with the cord, the situation was very grim and the goal was to keep her inside for as long as possible. I was 28 weeks and 5 days pregnant when the cord flow reversed to her and her heart rate starting dropping continuously so they opted for an emergency c section and olive was born at 1 lb 7 oz. She was then in the NICU for 83 days and had many setbacks including oxygen issues, necrotizing enterocolitis, feeding issues, and blood transfusions. She finally came home on oxygen and only needed it for a couple weeks but was diagnosed with bronchopulmonary dysplasia that she will have for the rest of her life. Olive will be a year old on may 13 and is 16 lbs. she’s hit all her milestones and then some! She’s doing very well and is as spunky as ever!

What makes you proud of you NICU graduate?
I am so proud of how far olive has come despite not being given good chances at life at first.

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
1 lb 7 oz

Weeks Gestation
28+5 weeks

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