Wyatt G. ~ Super Hero Alias: Super Wy

Age: 14 months
Weight at Birth: 6 pounds 6 ounces
Weeks Gestation: 36 weeks, 3 days
Time in the NICU: 12 days

Diagnosis, complications, surgeries?
Respiratory Distress Syndrome, pulmonary hypertension

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

Wyatt and his twin, Mason, were born prematurely. We knew Wyatt was big for a twin of his gestational age and once I passed 36 weeks my doctor indicated that the babies probably would not have any serious health problems. Unfortunately Wyatt turned blue just a few minutes after he was born and was struggling to breathe on his own. He was moved to the NICU and put on oxygen. It was determined that his lung development was immature and he was diagnosed with Respiratory Distress Syndrome. The doctors were troubled when he had not made any improvement after three days, which is typically when RDS babies have turned the corner. They indicated that there might be something more serious going on, but everything seemed to check out and we just had to wait for him to get better. He was such a strong little guy and he fought so hard and after six days in the NICU on oxygen he finally started to improve. He was a very feisty baby and he had a reputation with the NICU nurses for pulling off his canula and pulling out his OG/NG tube and IVs! We were so excited when he finally began to wean off of the oxygen after about 10 days and after 12 days he was ready to come home to us. Wyatt really struggled with gross motor delays for the first 8 months of his life. He started occupational therapy when he still wasn’t sitting at all, even tripod sitting, at 7 months old. We worked diligently on his exercises and after 6 weeks he was able to sit on his own. He has been such a little fighter and so strong and now at 14 months he is completely caught up on gross motor, walking all over the place with his brothers. We are so proud of what a strong fighter and hard worker our little Wyatt is.
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