Nico

Child's Birth Year
2019

State/Province/Territory
Arizona

NICU Hospital for my journey
Tucson Medical Center

My NICU Graduate's Journey
When my husband Dan and I found out we were expecting our first baby in December 2018, we spent the school year dreaming about summer preparations for his arrival. We both work in the school system. Dan is a teacher and I’m a speech therapist. We couldn’t wait to spend the summer getting ready for our baby boy. Nico was due in September, but on May 24th, at just 25 weeks gestation, our world changed completely. Our tiny baby boy was born weighing only 1 pound 14 ounces.

As first-time parents, we were terrified. I didn’t even realize I was in labor. Suddenly, instead of decorating a nursery, we were learning NICU terminology, watching monitors, and praying constantly for our son. Nico spent 141 days in the NICU. He was intubated for a long time and had many difficult setbacks, but from the very beginning he was spunky and determined. Even his doctors and nurses saw his fighting spirit.

Because Nico was born right as summer break began, my husband and I were able to spend every day by his side in the NICU all summer long. The NICU nurses became angels to our family. They cared for Nico when we couldn’t be there, encouraged us to rest, and celebrated every tiny victory with us.

Today, Nico is a thriving, baseball-loving almost-7-year-old who keeps us laughing every day. He attends a bilingual school, adores his little brother, and approaches life with the same determination that carried him through the NICU.

What makes you proud of your NICU graduate?
What makes me most proud of Nico is the way he approaches life with joy, determination, and heart. Even as a 1-pound 14-ounce preemie, he fought hard and never gave up. That same spirit still defines him today.

Nico is one of the smallest players on his little league team, but also one of the toughest. Baseball has been part of who he is since he was tiny, and watching him grow from T-ball to kid pitch has been one of the greatest joys of our lives. He plays with passion, confidence, and grit.

I’m also proud of how loving he is. He adores his little brother, makes friends everywhere he goes, and keeps our family laughing constantly. After 141 days in the NICU, seeing him run, learn, eat every snack in the house, and thrive as a bilingual kid is something I will never take for granted.

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
1 lb 14 oz

Weeks Gestation
25 weeks

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