Otis

Child's Birth Year
2024

State/Province/Territory
Illinois

NICU Hospital for my journey
Comer’s Children’s Hospital at UChicago Medicine

My NICU Graduate's Journey
Our little Otis was not premature, but he spent time in the NICU. He suffered meconium aspiration due to the stress at the end of my labor, when he got stuck. He was crowning, so it was too late for a C-section. He also suffered pulmonary hypertension. The doctors acted fast in order to save his brain from damage. They put him on therapeutic hypothermia, among other treatments. He was born on a Friday, and on Sunday at 2 AM, we were called down to the NICU. He was getting worse and our amazing doctor told us “unfortunately there is nothing else we can do for him here.” They called a helicopter to have him transferred to UChicago medicine for a treatment called ECMO. Miraculously, when he arrived at this new hospital, his new team declared that he was actually improving and that ECMO was not needed at this time. He was taken off therapeutic hypothermia after three days. They warmed him up very slowly and after that, he began making improvements every day. I got to hold him for the first time when he was nine days old!! And we got to breast-feed for the first time at 10 days old 🫶🏼 Towards the end of our journey, we were very ready to go home but doctors were extra cautious just because of what awful condition he came to them in. We are beyond blessed and grateful to have a healthy child after such a scary start!!

What makes you proud of your NICU graduate?
Where do I start?!?! I am so proud of him for fighting and not giving up. I know it sounds cliché, but he really did put up a fight to be here with us. His body and heart wanted to hold on despite all of this stress he experienced before even being earth side. He learned how to suck, swallow and breathe so fast after his feeding tube was removed because he wanted to come home just as much as we did! He learned how to latch to me, but, my supply wasn’t enough to sustain his needs. He took the formula like a champ and was never picky about bottles or really anything. I’m proud of everything he does. Each breath is a literal blessing!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

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

Weeks Gestation
41 weeks, 3 days

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