Nolan

Child's Birth Year
2022

State/Province/Territory
Massachusetts

NICU Hospital for my journey
Beth Israel Hospital Boston

My NICU Graduate's Journey
Nolan was born at 36 weeks and went into respiratory distress. After suction and cpap did not help him breathe Nolan was intubated. His blood sugars also started dropping dangerously low and he required IV fluids to help him. He remained on a ventilator for 2 days and was slow weened to a cpap machine then nasal canola. He required an NG tube for feedings and iv fluids for the first few days. At day 9 Nolan was taken off oxygen for the first time since birth and I was able to breast feed him for the first time. He started rapidly gaining weight and was able to maintain oxygen levels. At 11 days old Nolan graduated from the NICU and got to come home to his family.

What makes you proud of your NICU graduate?
He is smart, loving, and friendly. He is determined and has a passion for life. Nolan struggled with his speech, and did not start talking till he was 15 months old when he said his first words. He worked with speech therapy, and while he still struggles with speaking clearly, he talks in full sentences. He has never let anything slow him down.

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
7 lbs 11 oz

Weeks Gestation
36 weeks

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