#30DaysofBrave Day 28- Katie
As part of our #30DaysofBrave story – we wanted to remind families that while the NICU is uncharted territory for newborns and parents alike, it is also a place where miracles happen every single day.
Our son, Theo James, was born via emergency c-section on the morning of October 26, 2018 at 8:24 a.m. due to category III fetal heart rate tracing. He was 25 weeks and 4 days, weighing 1 pound, 10 ounces. Immediately following his birth, he was admitted to the Level III NICU at Cleveland Clinic’s Hillcrest Hospital where he bravely fought for his life for 117 days.
In addition to having a critically ill micro-preemie, there were several thoughts swirling around my head. We had not had a baby shower yet, we did not have the nursery setup, we did not select a pediatrician, I had no clue how this would impact my maternity leave. There were so many unknowns.
For my husband and I, accepting our new reality meant staying by our firstborn’s bedside day in and day out. He was unstable the first 4 weeks and there was nothing that we could do aside from being present and staying in tune with his medical team. In those first few weeks, our family and friends asked us several times if we were going to get Theo baptized and we decided to wait because doing it within the sterile walls of the hospital felt a bit ominous.
At the end of November, Theo was septic, battling life-threatening complications and on Black Friday (Nov. 23rd) he was on the verge of being transferred to Cleveland Clinic’s main campus where he would have surgery. You learn very quickly in the NICU that nothing is within your control. In that moment, there was only one thing we could do – get him baptized.
Fr. Steve Flynn from St. Francis of Assisi Parish arrived in less than an hour of my frantic and hysterical call. He graciously and bravely baptized Theo in his isolette with Holy Water that my aunt and uncle had brought back from the Vatican on a recent trip to Italy. There were no grandparents, no godparents, no family or friends, he wasn’t wearing a christening gown, but we clung on to our faith that day just as we watched Theo cling on to his life.
Later that evening Theo began to stabilize and no longer needed to be transferred. In the days, weeks and months that followed, he continued to get stronger and healthier. His primary team of nurses including Kara Crots, Karen Fairbanks, Lexi Gill, Jackie Ludwig, Kaitlin Marsh, Vanessa Poucki and Nicole Terzigni helped us celebrate every single milestone – from being able to wear clothes for the first time to graduating from an isolate to a crib, his first bottle and so many countless others. Theo was discharged in February 2019 – 16 days after his due date.
In August 2019, Fr. Steve welcomed us to St. Francis of Assisi Parish to have a celebratory christening surrounded by our extended family and friends. It was a dream. Today, almost three years later, we have a deep sense of pride for our #NICUwarrior and realize how blessed we are to be parents of a #NICUgrad. Theo taught us how to be brave, relentless and he continues to be our source of light and inspiration.
For those braving their NICU journey now – be brave in whatever way you can. It looks different for everyone. Sending strength, comfort, hope and prayers to you.
With love,
NICU Mom – Katie