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Miraculous Makaiyah

April 26, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Makaiyah M. ~ Super Hero Alias: Miraculous Makaiyah

Makaiyah BAge: 6 months
Weight at birth: 3lbs 8oz
Weeks gestation: 33 weeks
Time in the NICU: 32 days

Diagnosis, surgeries, complications?

Intrauterine Growth Restriction. She stopped growing at 29 weeks.

Why Should Your Child Be Recognized as Preemie of the Year?

Makaiyah has came a long way and though I realize she was not a micro preemie, she still had her battles to overcome. She had came to complete IUGR at 29 weeks but it was not discovered until I went to labor and delivery for severe pain at 32 weeks. Anything bad could have happened to her in the womb during that time but she held on tight and survived. She amazes us every day with what she accomplishes and she’s such a joy to have.

Using Three Or More Characteristics of a Super Hero, Please Describe Your Child

Makaiyah is strong, strong-willed and stubborn. I believe it was the combination of these three things that kept her alive and going.

What advice do you have for future NICU parents?

You’re stronger then you may think. The NICU proves it!

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Happily Natalie

March 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Natalie C. ~ Super Hero Alias: Happily Natalie

Natalie CAge: 4 months
Weight at birth: 4lbs 12oz
Weeks gestation: 33 weeks 6 days
Time in the NICU: 13 days

Diagnosis, surgeries, complications?

Low birth weight, IV in arm and leg, feeding tube, jaundice, iron deficiency, apnea spell

Why Should Your Child Be Recognized as Preemie of the Year?

Natalie is a brave little girl. She was born early and has since liked to do everything early. She started teething and rolling on her stomach early. She fought through being born early with only a few problems. After having a feeding tube inserted, she pulled it out a few days later. The NICU nurses told us she was strong-willed. Not only is Natalie strong-willed, but also a very happy and loving baby. She loves to smile at new faces and be cuddled. Even though she is still measuring small, she has more than tripled her birth weight in four months. Natalie is loved by so many people and I know in my heart she will continue to amaze her father and I with everything she does.

Using Three Or More Characteristics of a Super Hero, Please Describe Your Child

Fearless, beaming, charming and determined

What advice do you have for future NICU parents?

Never be afraid to ask the NICU nurses questions about your baby. Always show your baby how much you love him/her when you visit. Don’t forget, even though it may feel like it, your baby will not be in the NICU forever.

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Cancer Trooper

November 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Kiley P. ~ Super Hero Alias: Cancer Trooper

Kiley PAge: 2 months
Weight at birth: 4 lb, 13 oz
Weeks gestation: 33 weeks, 3 days
Time in the NICU: 24 days

Why Should Your Child Be Recognized as Preemie of the Year?

There are many reasons I’m a super hero! At 11 weeks pregnant, mommy was diagnosed with stage 3 thyroid cancer, major surgery was the answer. Right after mommy’s 7-1/2 hour surgery, she called for labor & delivery to come find my heartbeat. Wouldn’t you know it despite all odds, my heartbeat was incredibly strong. News got worse…Seeing the extent the cancer had spread, mommy’s doctors encouraged her to abort the pregnancy & our family members agreed due to not wanting to lose mommy. Mommy wouldn’t let that happen, we already had our special bond….we were beating cancer together. After several doctors visits. It was confirmed I was going to be born! My daddy is a United States Sailor… He had to re-deploy after mommy healed, but right before he left we found out I was the GIRL they’d been praying for. I continued scaring mommy, daddy & mimi with many trips to the hospital with losing fluids. At mommy’s 32 week visit, her blood pressure was very high so we were sent to stay in the hospital but we got to go home the very next day for bedrest. But less than a week later we were back when mommy’s blood pressure shot up to 180/110.The next day all seemed to calm down…then mommy had a seizure, this meant it was time for me to come at 33 weeks & 3 days. With an emergency c-section I made my arrival, mommy held her breath till she heard me cry. I made my arrival without my daddy here…he was returning from deployment the next day. After I was washed up my mommy gave me sugars, mimi & my doctors took be to be examined. News was I had to leave my mommy, the NICU at that hospital didn’t have the care I needed, my lungs needed help. They loaded me up in transport; let me see mommy again & off we went. On oxygen for 2 days I beat the odds on how quickly I grew & 2 days later mommy & daddy were at my side. And boy did I grow! I was just about ready to go home, mommy has the biggest fear I would be hurt in some way because of all the medications she was on when I lived in her belly, but I wasn’t! When it came time for my testing to go home, I failed the first test, this meant 5 more days with my nurses & doctors, I beat it the next time though! Next day I was on my way to my home! Doctors told them I might not do things as quickly as other babies…wrong! At 7 weeks I started rolling over & at 9 weeks holding my head up. At 2 months old mimi found a lump on me…so I had to have a biopsy which is not fun for this fun sized girl. I stayed strong through it, not a tear! I’ve beat all odds!

Using Three Or More Characteristics of a Super Hero, Please Describe Your Child.

Strong
Courageous
Brave
Intelligent

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Amazing Alanna

October 4, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Alanna W. ~ Super Hero Alias: Amazing Alanna

Alanna WAge: 4.5 months
Weight at Birth: 4lbs 3oz
Weeks Gestation: 33 weeks
Time in the NICU: 83 days

Diagnosis, complications, surgeries?
Prematurity, multiple birth, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), sepsis

Why should your children be recognized as “Preemies of the Year”?

Alanna and her twin brother Carson were born by C-section at 33wks gestation. They were born at Brackenridge Hospital, and spent a week in the NICU there. After 5 days, they were diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), where part of the intestines start to die off. Carson got better with bowel rest and antibiotics; Alanna did not. At seven days old Alanna had to be rushed to Dell Children’s Hospital for emergency surgery due to a perforated intestine and sepsis. The survival rate for this surgery is very low. When she came out of surgery, she was a very sick little girl, and spent several days on a ventilator because she was so heavily medicated to keep her from being in pain. It took several weeks of very strong antibiotics to get the infection under control. She went through so many IV lines as they tried to maintain the flow of the various drugs that were keeping her alive. The nurses even had to shave off all of her hair so they could use the veins on her head for IVs. As she got well enough to eat again, we discovered her dislike of anything but donor breastmilk. Her little tummy barely tolerated formula, and it was a struggle to find one it didn’t completely reject. She kept the nurses hopping through all of this. She was very quick to voice her opinion when she disliked the situation. When I would come to visit her, I would always have to hunt her down, because she was being carried all over the unit by the nurses and CAs. When she was just over two months old, she had another surgery to repair the ileostomy she had gotten during the first surgery. She took another week to heal after this major surgery, and during her recovery had several rough patches, including going into respiratory arrest, and having to be put back on the ventilator. She finally got to come home after 83 days in the NICU.

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Devious Luke

June 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Luke R. ~ Super Hero Alias: Devious Luke

Luke RAge: 8 months old
Weight at Birth: 4 lbs 14 oz
Weeks Gestation: 33 weeks
Time in the NICU: 43 days

Diagnosis, complications, surgeries?

GERD, eye problems and developmental delay

Why should your child be recognized as “Preemie of the Year”?

My son Luke has had a rough start as do most other preemies, but he has an attitude that I admire. He was on a ventilator and chest tube for a week, then oxygen off and on. He had his ups and downs in his 43 day NICU stay. The NICU was a very uncertain time not knowing what would come next, but he has always amazed me with his strength and determination. Now at 8 months old, he has never been out of the hospital much longer than a month. He is always a smiley happy baby, even when most other babies even some adults would be frustrated.  He was born 7 weeks early but is mommy’s little fighter.

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Little X

April 26, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Robert M. ~ Super Hero Alias: Little X

Robert MAge: 1 month
Weight at Birth: 6 lbs
Weeks Gestation: 33 weeks
Time in the NICU: 18 days

Why should your child be recognized as “Preemie of the Year”?

He is a fighter from the start. Mother had vasa previa and had bleeding spells from 24 weeks pregnant. She could have lost him at any time, and he was born with club foot on both feet.
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Paigie Girl

July 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment

NICU Reunion, Family Celebration, Hand to Hold Birthday, Photo Contest

Paige M. ~ Super Hero Alias: Paigie Girl

Paige MAge: 4 years
Weight at Birth:
Weeks Gestation: 33 weeks
Time in the NICU: 14 days

Why should your child be recognized as “Preemie of the Year”?

Her twin brother’s water broke so she had no choice to be born. She was not ready–she had no surfactant to keep her lungs working. After spending her first 24 hours in an oxygen tent, she was put on a respirator/ventilator for 3 days.  They shut down her digestive system so her body could concentrate on healing her lungs.  She received 2 doses of surfactant and finally started responding after a few days. If she had needed a 3rd dose they would have had to send her to the children’s hospital and things could have been much worse. After much pleading from mom and dad she decided to kick it into gear and respond to the medications. Since then she has proven herself to be a fighter. She has a strong will which I believe has helped her past any preemie delays she’s encountered. She is willing to try things over and over until she gets it right. Seeing this willfulness still there at 4 years old, I have no doubt she will grow up to do great things.

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Giadalicious

April 25, 2011 by Leave a Comment

NICU Reunion, Family Celebration, Hand to Hold Birthday, Photo Contest

Giada M. ~ Super Hero Alias: Giadalicious

Age: 4 years old
Weight at Birth: 4 lbs 1 oz
Weeks Gestation: 33 weeks
Time in the NICU: 20 days

Diagnosis, complications, surgeries?
Grade 3 Brain Hemorrhage; Mild Hip Dysplasia; Atrial Septal Defect; Failure to Thrive; Acid and Bile Reflux; Multiple Infections of Rotavirus, Pneumonia, Influenza, Whooping Cough, and Croup; Food Allergies, Open Heart Surgery June 2, 2009, Broken Arm.

Why should your child be recognized as “Preemie of the Year”?

Giada and her friend Callia should be recognized because:

Once upon a time, there were two tiny babies that didn’t have the chance to be fully baked–they were born two months early. Though this was truly hard for everyone that loved them, this was the best thing that ever happened to them–Callia and Giada became best friends forever.

Due to their prime real estate in the NICU and their naughty little behaviors like pulling gavage feeding tubes out of their noses, they formed the NICU NAUGHTIES. With their super preemie powers, they could battle anything like overcoming major illnesses and leaving the hospital before their due dates!

These two super preemies are tough, yet ready to love wholeheartedly! Come on and show some preemie love, they will fight for you!

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