Elaina

Child's Birth Year
2025

State/Province/Territory
Illinois

NICU Hospital for my journey
Saint Francis children's hospital

My NICU Graduate's Journey
Our daughter, Elaina, began her journey far earlier than we ever imagined, arriving at just 22 weeks gestation weighing only 1 lb 3 oz. From her very first breath, she showed incredible strength. Early in her NICU stay, she battled both pneumonia and E. coli, facing challenge after challenge with a resilience that inspired everyone around her. At just 2 months old, Elaina underwent her first surgery to close her PDA, a major milestone in a road filled with uncertainty, hope, and tiny victories worth celebrating. After 148 long days in the NICU, countless prayers, and the unwavering support of her medical team, we were finally able to bring our sweet girl home. Although she still came home on oxygen and with an NG tube, having her home with us felt like the brightest sunrise after the longest storm. Elaina’s journey has shown us the true meaning of strength, perseverance, and the power of love packed into the tiniest fighter.

What makes you proud of your NICU graduate?
We are proud of Elaina for fighting the entire way. Going from incubation to coming home on just 1/8 L of home oxygen just shows how great she is.

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
1lb 3oz

Weeks Gestation
22 weeks 6 days

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