2025 Contest Winners

Meet the winners! Here are the category winners of the 2025 NICU Grad Then & Now Photo Contest that were featured in the 2025 NICU Grad Then & Now Yearbook. Enjoy the winning photographs and stories of these NICU graduates. Congratulations to all the 2025 category winners!



Hospital: Baylor University Medical Center, Texas

Madilynn was born on August 14, 2021. She is a twin, Baby B. Sister Madisyn
(Baby A) Passed away at 9 months in the NICU. Their journey started at 19 weeks when my water broke, holding on to both babies until 26 Weeks and 3 days.

What makes me proud of my NICU graduate is that she is beating all the odds that she was up against from the very beginning.



Hospital:  St. David’s Medical Center - North Austin, Texas

At just 28 weeks pregnant, I was admitted to the hospital on strict bed rest after a rupture of membranes. It was far too early, but Ty’Maree was already showing she was a fighter. For several long weeks, I remained in the hospital while doctors closely monitored her fragile heart, which kept having dangerous decelerations. Each day was filled with anxiety, hope, and silent prayers.

At 34 weeks, I was induced. Ty’Maree entered the world early, tiny, and delicate, but fierce. She spent the next four weeks in the NICU, facing hurdles no newborn should. Her biggest battle was feeding. Every attempt to breastfeed or bottle-feed ended in choking, and each episode sent her heart rate and oxygen levels plummeting. Alarms would sound, and the room would spin into action. I watched helplessly as my baby turned blue more times than I can count.

But slowly, miraculously, she grew stronger. Her doctors and nurses never gave up on her, and neither did she. Bit by bit, she learned to eat without distress. Her eyes began to focus, her skin grew rosy, and her tiny fingers gripped mine tighter with each passing day.

Today, Ty’Maree is a thriving NICU graduate. Her journey wasn’t easy, but she emerged resilient, radiant, and unstoppable. She is the heartbeat of our family, a daily reminder that even the smallest babies can carry the strongest spirits.



Hospital: Atrium Health Levine Children's Hospital, South Carolina

33 days spent in NICU after suffering a brain injury from a seizure that resulted in an HIE diagnosis and we discovered a Williams Syndrome mutation in her DNA after testing. We are now 8 months, feeding tube free, and loving life.

She’s the happiest and bravest girl, she’s accomplished so much and beat the odds they put against her.



Hospital: Little Rock Baptist Heath Medical Center, Arkansas

Kaizer started his life on December 20th, 2023. He was born with a birth injury called HIE. He spent his first 2 weeks in the NICU, where he was on several seizure medications, and had his body cooling. It was a scary 2 weeks. Kaizer has frontal lobe brain damage and scarring on the white matter of his brain. They never thought he would get out of the NICU, but within a few weeks, he showed them otherwise! Since then, he has made tremendous improvements in his motor skills. At 17 months, he has just started trying to crawl, make noises, and continues to be a vibrant kid. In a few weeks, he will have a G-tube placed due to his epiglottis not functioning properly. With all this, I still have faith that because of the care at BHLR, my son is headed in the right direction.



Hospital: St David’s Medical Center - South Austin, Texas

He was born at 41 weeks but had a rough labor and didn’t like contractions. He had breathing issues hours after being born. They found that his lungs did not develop as quickly as the rest of his body. He also had issues with blood sugar the entire time. He spent 17 days in the NICU

He doesn’t let anything stop him. He always has a smile on his face, and he gives the best hugs.



Hospital: Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Tennessee

Aniston was born at 33.0 weeks on Memorial Day 2021! We had been on bed rest for 8 weeks post fetal surgery, and she decided she didn’t want to wait any longer to meet us! She was so strong and able to come off oxygen in less than a day. She experienced all the tests and pokes, and even failed a couple of hearing screenings, but she was so strong the entire time. She continued to learn to eat, feed, breathe, and regulate temperature and graduated from the NICU at 23 days old!



Hospital: Beaumont Hospital - Dearborn, Michigan

Olivia and Chloe were born at 26 weeks, weighing 1lb 1oz and 1lb 8oz. I was admitted to the hospital for 3 weeks due to high blood pressure and growth restriction for both babies. During my hospital stay, we were given very little hope for our girls. Olivia had a 5% chance of survival, and Chloe had a 30% chance. They were born on May 26th during an emergency c-section after a biophysical profile showed Olivia in fetal distress. The girls were in the NICU for 4 months, ventilated for 3 of those months. Their stay was a constant roller coaster as they both battled with multiple infections, collapsed lungs, extended time on an oscillator, ROP - the list could go on! We had many dark days during our NICU stay, but with the amount of prayers and support we received, our girls would always take a turn for the better. Olivia was transferred to two different hospitals for two different eye surgeries during their NICU stay as well. Both girls came home on oxygen support, which lasted for about 4 months. Our girls are now turning 9 this May, and are flourishing! They are our miracle babies - they overcame so many obstacles and defied all odds against them. We are so blessed to have our girls. They continue to amaze everyone who meets them after learning about their story. We are so grateful for our team of NICU doctors and nurses. They were our rock during the hardest time of our lives!



Hospital: St. David's Medical Center, Texas

Henry was born at 28 weeks, weighing 1 pound 7 ounces and 12.6 inches long. His premature birth was a complete shock to us, as I ended up having severe pre-eclampsia. When my doctor told me she was worried I was going to have a stillbirth, I remember bursting out in tears. Thankfully, I was rushed to Austin, and we had the best medical team. They saved his life through fighting infections and just being so tiny. He spent 88 days in the NICU, and we were able to come home four days before Christmas. He is our strong fighter, and his dad and I wouldn't have gotten through the NICU roller coaster without the amazing staff at St. David's Medical Center and all the support from Hand to Hold. Today, Henry is 5 years old and getting ready to start Kindergarten. We are still so amazed looking back at how his journey started!



Hospital: Oklahoma Children's Hospital - OU Health, Oklahoma

Dupree was born at 23 weeks and 5 days. His birth weight was 1.48 lbs. He spent 99 days in the NICU. He had a PDA surgery within two weeks of his birth. He had multiple blood transfusions. He also had ROP. The Respiratory Team was his best friends. He was on every form of ventilation system. He went home on a low dose of oxygen. He beat every obstacle that was thrown at him. He is now twelve years old. No brain bleeds. No ROP. Ninety-plus pounds and thriving as a pre-teen.



Hospital: Forrest General Hospital, Mississippi

Jecion’s doctors are now retired. I went in with pre-eclampsia! Smooth pregnancy until 25 weeks... I lost a son before him in 2010 due to placenta abruption... they said I was high risk. I understood and did the best that I could, then bam! I'm preparing for whatever is thrown at me! Here he comes, and I couldn't be more excited. We had long days in NICU, but they really made us feel at home! 11 yrs later, almost 12, this little fella will be in 6th grade! He's taller than mom and his voice is deeper than the shallow end of a 12 ft deep pool!! He has his days and moments, but we're forever proud of what he's grown to be!! WE LOVE YOU JECION! WIN, LOSE, OR DRAW!!



Hospital: Cooper University Hospital, New Jersey

Maddie was born 10 weeks early weighing 2 Lbs 9 Oz. She endured infections, blood transfusions, congestive heart failure, surgery, and silent aspirations. Maddie’s NICU journey was filled with a lot of ups and downs. She is left with Cerebral Palsy, Polyventricular Leukomalecia, and Developmental delay.



Hospital: Memorial/Beacon South Bend Hospital, Indiana

Born at 28 weeks, at 8:00 am, 20 seconds apart, Olivia and Grant were born through an emergency c-section. Olivia weighed 2 lbs and Grant weighed 2lbs 14 oz. They spent 38 days in the NICU surrounded by medical angels. It was a rollercoaster of a ride, but on February 14, 2008, Valentine's Day, my husband and I were given the gift of a lifetime in bringing these miracle babies home. Today, they are Juniors in HS (class of 2026), top 10 in their class, and visiting colleges planning their next journey. They are happy, healthy, and living their best lives!!! Bless the wonderful Drs and Nurses in NICUs everywhere, but especially those who wrapped their hearts and souls around these 2 with love and care for 58 days 24/7!



Hospital: St. Peter's Hospital, New York

She was 9.5 weeks premature. She was stubborn from the beginning and a little fighter. She needed shots to help her lungs develop and a feeding tube. She had trouble regulating her body temperature, but the doctors and NICU nurses were amazing. They kept us informed every step of the way.



Hospital: Lawrence & Memorial Hospital, Connecticut 

Josh decided he was ready to enter the world at 28 weeks. His journey was rocky at times, with the need for many procedures and surgeries before he was well enough to be released home. Josh was a resident in 2 NICU facilities for 3 months (One was fairly new at that time!). During his residence, the doctors and nurses were caring and made sure we knew everything that was about to take place with our first baby. They offered many educational opportunities for not just myself and my husband but for anyone who would be caring for him at home.