Oliver

Child's Birth Year
2022

State/Province/Territory
Texas

NICU Hospital for my journey
HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest Medical Center

My NICU Graduate's Journey
Oliver was born prematurely at 29 weeks, presenting with a bilateral cleft lip and cleft palate. He remained in the NICU for a total of 126 days. As he was our firstborn, this period was quite challenging for us emotionally and mentally. However, Oliver's daily resilience in overcoming adversity provided us with immense strength. Due to his bilateral cleft lip and palate, feeding and weight gain were significant difficulties, and he relied heavily on NJ/G tube feeding throughout his stay. He also required oxygen support for a considerable duration. Gradually, he achieved his developmental milestones and was eventually able to come home, though he still required a G-tube.

What makes you proud of your NICU graduate?
I am incredibly proud of my NICU graduate, who has consistently overcome every challenge life has presented since birth. As I write this, he is celebrating his fourth birthday and has already undergone six surgeries. These include one for his g-tube, two to repair his cleft lip and palate, a tonsillectomy, and several ear tube placements. He has excelled and successfully completed various occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy programs, and he is now preparing to start Pre-K this upcoming school year. Despite being born at 29 weeks, we are immensely proud that he is currently ahead of his age range and defying all expectations. He is truly a warrior.

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
3 lbs

Weeks Gestation
29 weeks

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