Keira

Child's Birth Year
2021

State/Province/Territory
Oklahoma

NICU Hospital for my journey
Children’s Hospital of Atlanta

My NICU Graduate's Journey
I found out that Keira’s kidneys were not working well while 29 weeks pregnant and her lungs were at 30% capacity at 31 weeks so her NICU stay was already planned. I was stationed at Fort Stewart, GA and CHOA (which was 4 hours away) was the only NICU that could support her in the state. Doctors didn’t know if she would survive birth but she did! She had 2 major surgeries her first month of life, we almost lost her at day 2 and 3 weeks but she is a fighter. Her total stay in the NICU was 227 days and she won the hearts of everyone that worked with her in the hospital with her many facial expressions and silly personality.

What makes you proud of your NICU graduate?
Keira has overcome so much with a cancer diagnosis at 11 months to receiving a kidney transplant just two days after her 5th birthday. She is so strong and such a happy kid with a little bit of sass. She is so smart and still draws so many people to her. She is the epitome of joy unspeakable.

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
7 lbs 7 oz

Weeks Gestation
37 weeks

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