Parker's Story

Hello! My name is Elizabeth, my daughter Parker was born at 24 weeks gestation. I went into preterm labor unknowingly- when I went to the hospital to get checked out I was 10cm dilated and she was coming! It was a shock to my core. 

I had never heard of anyone having a baby this early, it wasn’t even on my radar. She came about 12 hours later and was born weighing 1lb 9.5 oz. Throughout her NICU journey there were many, many ups and downs as they say. It was terrifying to watch my daughter literally fight for her life. She was on the ventilator for 3 weeks, had a brain bleed (at birth), and ended up having treatment on her eyes for ROP (retinopathy of prematurity).

 When you’re in the NICU every minute feels like something could change, there were really good days and there were days we thought she would not make it. She spent 134 days in the NICU and ended up coming home on oxygen and with a gtube. We had a LOT to learn but as parents but we would cross oceans for that precious girl. 

She still has things we are working on and delays from the extreme prematurity but I am blessed to say Parker is doing phenomenal! We are so, so proud of her. We are eternally grateful for the community we found in the NICU from other families, doctors, nurses, and RTs.