Cree

Child's Birth Year
2018

State/Province/Territory
Florida

NICU Hospital for my journey
UF Health

My NICU Graduate's Journey
Cree’s story began long before most people ever got the chance to meet him. Born at just 28 weeks, he entered this world fighting before he even took his first breath on his own. What should have been a normal delivery quickly turned into a journey filled with NICU monitors, tiny diapers, feeding tubes, sleepless nights, and prayers whispered through tears. Every ounce gained felt like a victory. Every milestone that other parents may take for granted became a celebration for us.

The NICU became our second home. We learned words we never expected to know, listened to machines beep around the clock, and held onto faith during moments that felt uncertain. Watching such a tiny baby fight so hard changed us forever. Cree showed strength from the very beginning. He was small, but his spirit was mighty.

As the years went on, we began noticing that Cree experienced the world a little differently. There were challenges with communication, routines, sensory processing, and social interaction that eventually led us down another unexpected path an autism diagnosis. At first, the diagnosis brought many emotions: confusion, fear, sadness, and questions about what the future would look like. But over time, we realized that autism was not the end of his story. It was simply another chapter in it.


What makes you proud of your NICU graduate?
Cree is more than a diagnosis. He is intelligent, loving, funny, determined, and uniquely himself. Autism has taught our family patience, understanding, advocacy, and unconditional love on a deeper level. His journey has not always been easy, but it has been beautiful. From surviving the NICU to thriving in his own way every single day, Cree continues to show us what resilience truly looks like.

His story is one of strength, perseverance, and purpose. He may have started life as a tiny NICU warrior, but today he stands as proof that even the smallest fighters can overcome the biggest battles.

Weight at Birth (lbs. or Grams)
2lbs

Weeks Gestation
28 weeks

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