Santiago & Raul

Child's Birth Year
2023

State/Province/Territory
California

NICU Hospital for my journey
MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach

My NICU Graduate's Journey
My boys were born at just 29 weeks, weighing only 2 lbs. 14 oz. and 2 lbs. 10 oz., both only 14 inches long. Tiny enough to fit in the palms of our hands, yet already fighting the biggest battle of their lives.Nothing can truly prepare you for becoming a NICU mom let alone a NICU mom to twins. The moment they were born, instead of bringing my babies home, I had to leave them behind surrounded by machines, wires, monitors, and alarms. I was terrified. Terrified of how small they were, terrified of the unknown, and terrified that I didn’t know when or if they would finally come home with me.For a long time, my heart carried so much pain and guilt. I kept wondering if I had done something wrong, if somehow this was my fault. It took time to understand that none of this was because I failed them, and that the NICU was exactly where they needed to be to survive and grow stronger. Every single day was an emotional roller coaster. Walking into the NICU brought me so much happiness because I got to see my babies, hold them, love them — but it also broke me seeing them hooked up to so many tubes and machines. One day they would make progress and give us hope, and the next day they would take a step backward. You learn to celebrate every tiny milestone in the NICU because those tiny milestones become everything.After 2 1/2 long months, Raul was finally strong enough to come home. He was breathing on his own and finally off oxygen. I was overwhelmed with happiness finally bringing one of my babies home… but at the same time, my heart shattered because his brother still had to stay behind. Santiago had stopped wanting to take a bottle, and he needed surgery to get a G-tube before he could come home safely. I remember the ache of having to leave Raul at home just so I could go back to the hospital to be with his brother. No mother imagines having to split her heart in two like that.Then finally, after three months that felt like an eternity, Santiago came home too. And in true Santiago fashion, only three weeks later, he no longer even needed his G-tube.My boys have already overcome more in their short lives than most people ever will. They continue to prove everyone wrong every single day with their strength, resilience, and determination. Watching them grow, hit milestones, and beat every obstacle placed in front of them has been the greatest privilege of my life.Today, they are happy, healthy, WILD 2 1/2-year-olds who have graduated from OT and speech therapy and are thriving more and more every day. I will forever be grateful for the NICU, the doctors and nurses who cared for my babies, and for the strength my boys showed from the very beginning..They may have started life tiny, but they have always been mighty

What makes you proud of your NICU graduate?
Just how strong , funny , and smart they are . From the moment I found out I was pregnant with them and told them it to get my hopes up because they thought they were di-di twins to them showing everyone how STRONG they are

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
2.10 lbs

Weeks Gestation
29 weeks

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