Adriel

Child's Birth Year
2025

State/Province/Territory
Texas

NICU Hospital for my journey
Texas Children’s Hospital - Houston Medical Center

My NICU Graduate's Journey
On November 6, 2024, what was supposed to be a routine 20-week anatomy scan changed our lives completely. During the ultrasound, doctors suspected that our son, Adriel, had Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH), a life-threatening condition that would require specialized treatment and surgery in Houston for him to survive. Hearing that, without intervention, our son could die devastated my partner and me beyond words. I struggled deeply with fear, grief, anger, and confusion, especially after already choosing to continue my pregnancy despite the challenges we faced. Over the next three months, I prepared emotionally and physically for the biggest transition of my life while carrying the weight of my first pregnancy and Adriel’s diagnosis. On March 21, 2025, Adriel was born, and we spent seven weeks in the NICU at Texas Children’s Hospital. Living in Houston while trying to remain strong for my son became one of the hardest yet most transformative seasons of my life. In the middle of uncertainty and exhaustion, I experienced profound spiritual growth and gained a deeper understanding of faith, grace, and resilience.

What makes you proud of your NICU graduate?
Despite his now many complex medical issues, Adriel is always putting his best foot forward and starting again. I’m so proud of how much he’s learned and still wanting to be curious of his surroundings. He teaches me not to dwell on the negative and to be more present in the moment.

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
8lbs 5oz

Weeks Gestation
39 weeks 3 days

Time spent in the NICU (Specify Number of Days, Months, or Years)
2 months