Audrey

Child's Birth Year
2023

State/Province/Territory
California

NICU Hospital for my journey
Kaiser Permanente Roseville CA

My NICU Graduate's Journey
Nothing prepares you for hearing that your baby may need to be delivered far too soon. At just one pound and 12 inches long, my daughter entered the world fighting for her life after severe preeclampsia turned our pregnancy into an emergency C-section at 25 weeks. What followed was a journey through the NICU that changed me forever. Constant ups and downs with multiple infections in the NICU, bronchopulnonary dysplasia (BPD), multiple codings in the hospital and the fear of unknown. She has a tracheostomy and is on a trajectory to have it removed by the end of this year.

My daughter’s story is not just about hardship — it’s about resilience, strength, and the tiny fighter who taught me what courage really looks like.

What makes you proud of your NICU graduate?
Despite everything she went through, she grew into a determined, fearless little girl. I am proud of her self-determination, her love for reading, the way she learned to build and create, and her courage to climb and explore the world around her. Every milestone felt monumental after the NICU journey that once made the future feel so uncertain.

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
1 pound

Weeks Gestation
25 weeks

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