Eliana

Child's Birth Year
2023

State/Province/Territory
California

NICU Hospital for my journey
Hoag Hospital - Newport Beach

My NICU Graduate's Journey
Born at 23 weeks and 4 days mother had a chronic placental abruption. Bleeding since 14 weeks, and constant contractions to breaking the water at 19 weeks and being told she needed to be aborted due to the sepsis risk, Eliana and her mother kept fighting. She came out with a squeak of a cry and was feisty. She stayed in the NICU for 114 days. She had a lung collapse at 3 days, sepsis 2 separate times, pulled out her breathing tube at 16 days and was able to keep it out. She struggled with feeds but miraculously never had a brain bleed or any severe ROP exams. It was a rollercoaster and even going home the first year was hard. She loved the massages they gave later on in the NICU, and to this day she still asks for massages.

What makes you proud of your NICU graduate?
She is a fighter, strong willed but the most loving best hugger in The world. She is sensitive but tough, always anticipating peoples needs and thoughtful of others and she has a beautiful sense of humor. She is a living testimony and a miracle. She loves to explore, run, climb trees, loves to play sports she is in tball, ballet and wants to do soccer. She loves to garden, paint and have mint tea. Loves her brother and his mischievousness rubs off as if they were the beat team. She loves going her Montessori preschool and learning numbers and the abc’s and caring for animals.

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
740 g

Weeks Gestation
23 weeks

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