Love, Hannah

“Dear NICU Mama, Your birth story tells the story of  incredible strength and resilience.  In the moments when you may feel uncertain or overwhelmed, remember the depth of your courage. You have navigated challenges with grace, advocating for the best care for your precious baby, making decisions with a love that runs deeper than words can express. The path you've walked is one of strength, and it's okay to honor the emotions that come with it. You are doing an extraordinary job, and even on the hardest days, you continue to shine.

It’s normal to feel both  gratitude for the moments you get to hold your sweet one, and sadness for the moments you didn’t. In these times, hold onto the love, and grace that you show yourself, even when it feels hard. The bond you share with your baby is unique. Take comfort in the hope that you are not alone. You are seen, you are valued, and you are so loved.”

Love,
Hannah

More of Hannah + Kellen’s NICU Journey:

“My son, Kellen, was born on April 1st (no joke), at 36 weeks and 5 days. My pregnancy had its challenges, including insulin-controlled gestational diabetes after an IUI to conceive. I failed my NST and my BPP (scoring 2/8), and five hours later, we delivered our sweet boy. I knew something wasn’t quite right after his birth, and about 30 minutes later, he was taken to the NICU. Less than 40 hours later, a decision was made to transfer him to a larger hospital where he could be intubated. He was loaded into an ambulance, and I was discharged.

Kellen was on a ventilator for 3 days with medication to treat his Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN). Over the next 15 days, he was slowly transitioned to CPAP and High Flow, trying many different combinations. Towards the end of our stay, he kept de-stating after baths and couldn’t regulate his body temperature. I never thought temperature could earn you an extra 48 hours in the NICU. We were finally able to bring him home after 16 days, with a total NICU stay of 18 days. While that seems short compared to others, those days felt like the biggest roller coaster of our lives.

Today, Kellen is 11 months old and thriving, with some extra love from a few therapies. He has the most contagious laugh and a big brother who can’t get enough of him.

I hope sharing our journey helps you through yours, and remember, you are not alone. You are incredibly brave!”