Child's Birth Year
2025

State/Province/Territory
Colorado

NICU Hospital for my journey
St. Joseph Hospital

My NICU Graduate's Journey
Emmalyn was born at 31 weeks and 5 days due preeclampsia. She was not quite ready to come in the world, but moms body had other plans and she came out like a fighter. She was 3 pounds 13 ounces and always had her hands up. She spent 5 days on bubble cpap and then moved to low flow oxygen. She was under the blue light because of jaundice and rocked some sunglasses. She had a feeding tube down her mouth then nose. On day 2 of life she pulled her IV out and after 8 tries nurses and doctors were unable to put the iv back in which meaned they had to increase her feeds to make sure she was getting the fluids she needed. She was a strong little girl from the start. Everyday she worked harder and harder. We had a couple of days where she decided to hold her breath and forget to breathe which gave us mini heart attacks to watch her O2 stats drop. She was able to eat from a bottle and got the feeding tube removed after 32 days. My husband and I spent 12 hours daily in the NICU making sure she knew she was loved and that we would do our best to take cake of her to get her to come home. She spent 34 days in NICU and graduated on 3/25. Due to living in Colorado she came home on oxygen for another month.

What makes you proud of you NICU graduate?
Emmalyn is a strong little fighter. Every week in the NICU that we set a goal for her she always achieved that goal
She impressed doctors and nurses each and everyday with her growth. She came into this world early but that has not stopped her personality and strong will. To watch your child be hooked up to machines and wires and then just fight for their life is truly remarkable. I am proud of my daughter for everything that she had to deal with coming into this world. Having a NICU graduate is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life. To watch her get through each day stronger than the last and just continue to grow has been amazing to watch. We will always tell her journey and be proud of what she accomplished to get to become a NICU grad.


Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
3 lbs 14 oz

Weeks Gestation
31 weeks 5 days

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