Ryann

Child's Birth Year
2021

State/Province/Territory
Texas

NICU Hospital for my journey
St David's Medical Center

My NICU Graduate's Journey
Ryann made her entrance at 34 weeks and 5 days after her mother’s water broke prematurely. Everything moved incredibly fast; within just six hours of arriving at the hospital, she was born weighing 4 lbs. 10 oz. As new parents, we only got to hold her for about 30 seconds before she was whisked away to the NICU due to her size and prematurity.
Even though she was tiny, Ryann was a fighter from the start. She spent 10 days in the NICU and, luckily, she faced very few complications during her stay. She showed us her strength early on, meeting every milestone needed to finally come home.
Since those first 10 days, Ryann has been an absolute dream. She has grown like a weed and reached every developmental milestone with ease. Today, she is a thriving pre-K student who is already starting to read books. Whether she is dancing or playing sports, her energy and spirit are a joy to watch.

What makes you proud of your NICU graduate?
What makes us most proud of Ryann is the grace and strength she has shown since her very first day. The hardest part of her journey was that initial separation, having to let go of her after only 30 seconds so she could get the care she needed. Watching her navigate the NICU with such resilience was our first real lesson in her bravery. Seeing the little 4 lb. baby who started in an incubator grow into a bright, active girl who loves to learn and play is the greatest reward. She has a "can-do" spirit that has been there since the beginning, and we are so proud of the wonderful person she is becoming.

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
4 lb 10 oz

Weeks Gestation
34 weeks

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