Teddy

Child's Birth Year
2025

State/Province/Territory
Texas

NICU Hospital for my journey
Dell Children’s Hospital

My NICU Graduate's Journey
Our son Teddy spent the first 75 days of his life in the NICU after being born with complex medical challenges, including Hirschsprung’s disease and congenital heart defects that required open heart surgery to repair his VSD. During his stay, he underwent two major surgeries and faced more obstacles in his first few months than most people face in a lifetime.

The NICU became Teddy’s first home. It was where he learned how to heal, rest, eat, grow, and recover one day at a time. There were moments of fear and uncertainty, but Teddy continued to show incredible strength through every procedure, every setback, and every milestone.

We celebrated victories that felt enormous to us. A successful surgery. Tolerating feeds. Resting comfortably. Small moments slowly became signs of progress and hope.

The team at Dell Children’s Hospital cared for Teddy with extraordinary compassion and dedication throughout his journey. The nurses, doctors, therapists, and staff supported not only Teddy’s medical needs but our family through some of the hardest days of our lives.

After 75 days, Teddy finally graduated from the NICU and came home. His journey changed our family forever and taught us how resilient and powerful these tiny babies truly are. Today, Teddy continues to grow stronger every day, and we are endlessly grateful for how far he has come.

What makes you proud of your NICU graduate?
What makes us most proud of Teddy is his courage. From the very beginning, he has faced surgeries, procedures, therapies, and challenges with a strength that feels far bigger than his tiny body. Even on the hardest days, Teddy continues to show up with determination, resilience, and the sweetest smile on his face.

He has taught our family what bravery truly looks like. He keeps pushing forward through every obstacle placed in front of him.

Watching Teddy fight so hard for every milestone has changed us forever. We are endlessly proud of the little boy who continues to prove every single day that strength can come in the smallest packages.

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
4lbs 14oz

Weeks Gestation
34 weeks

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