Wheeler

Child's Birth Year
2022

State/Province/Territory
Georgia

NICU Hospital for my journey
Piedmont Athens

My NICU Graduate's Journey
Wheeler was born at 33 weeks after a high risk pregnancy cause by mom being on methotrexate at conception—doctors said he wouldn’t make it to birth. They predicted if he did make it he’d likely have extreme birth defects and many cognitive and developmental disabilities. He spent a month in the NICU with the most amazing nurses and doctors caring for him. He was a tiny, 4 lb nugget of a baby, but he very quickly learned how to eat on his own and was a rockstar. This all happened during COVID regulations, so his family did not get to see him until he came home, and mommy and daddy had very limited touch time for a large portion of his NICU stay, but he came out more resilient and the strongest kid I know.

What makes you proud of your NICU graduate?
Wheeler is so loving and caring. He has a little sister now and he loves her so deeply. He tells me constantly that he will always protect her.
He is kind and polite. He is wise beyond his 4 years.
There are so many things that make me proud I can’t put them all into words.

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
4.14 lbs

Weeks Gestation
22 Weeks

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