NICU Family Stories
“The Hope Parade united NICU families from across Florida. The story below written by NICU mom and volunteer Valerie Hernandez is a beautiful testament to the power of community.” When my son, Reese, was born I didn’t get to meet him until he was three … Read More
by Celia Lisset Alvarez ICU baby Parent Supporter Nicole was married at 17 and divorced at 23. At that time, she was ready to be independent and have fun. A young hairstylist and makeup artist, she was not interested in nor ready to have a … Read More
by Celia Lisset Alvarez ICU baby Bereavement Supporter “I’m in labor,” I said to my husband. He had practically just gone home. It was near midnight. I was crying as they wheeled me—quickly—to the operating room. I had spent the last three weeks on bed … Read More
“There were days that I fell down crying seeing all of the things he was going through.” No mother wants to see her baby fighting for his life. It was an emotional journey for Elijah’s mother Rosa, but after 173 days of ups and downs, … Read More
“Miracle baby” is a term used often in the NICU by parents who watch their baby battle for life, conquer all odds, and survive. For Gabby Ashworth, “Miracle Baby” means more than most of us can imagine. Gabby’s parents, Nathalia and Aaron, believe Gabby is … Read More
When Karneisha, a young mother from Cutler Bay, tested positive for coronavirus she was caught completely off guard. She was pregnant with her second child and had no apparent COVID-19 symptoms, though she did have high blood pressure. Hours after receiving her results, her daughter … Read More
Clara and her husband, Harry, were delighted to learn of Clara’s pregnancy with her first baby. She had a peaceful first trimester, until twenty weeks into her pregnancy when the doctors told her that she had preeclampsia. In a matter of moments, Clara’s pregnancy experience … Read More
Twenty-six weeks into your pregnancy is not a time that you would expect your baby to be born. Yet, this is when Ashley found herself delivering her first baby, Eliana, weighing just 1.9 lbs. She came into the world tiny but mighty. Ashley gave birth … Read More
Trecha Henry had a perfect pregnancy and couldn’t wait for the birth of her first baby. At 40 weeks pregnant, she delivered her baby boy Keegan in a hospital near her home in the Cayman Islands. However during the delivery process, Keegan suffered from shoulder … Read More
The NICU is not a place many parents expect to be with their newborn baby. This is especially true when your first two children are full term and born without complications. Naila Vilela had no knowledge of a NICU – none of her friends or … Read More
Angela Jacobo held 24 week old baby Amaya in her arms after an emergency c-section, thinking that it would be the first and last time she would hold her daughter. Doctors didn’t expect Amaya to live for more than a few hours. Twelve hours passed … Read More
Getting pregnant is not easy for many people. In fact, 10% of women in the U.S. suffer from difficulty getting and staying pregnant. Shane and Darlene were part of that 10%. They tried to have a baby for 4 1/2 years without success. The 6th … Read More
The terrifying journey for babies Alisa and Alexa and their mother Gretel Amador began before the twin girls were even born. Gretel was diagnosed with TTTS Syndrome, which is a rare and serious condition that can occur in pregnancies when identical twins share their mother’s … Read More
Do you believe in miracles? ICU baby volunteers see miracles in the NICU every week. One remarkable story of survival, perseverance and love from this summer is that of the Quiroz Twins – the definition of miracle babies. News that you are expecting identical twins … Read More
When Jessica and Austin Hammond set out for a peaceful and relaxing babymoon to the Florida Keys, they never expected they would be welcoming their baby girl while on the vacation, in a hurricane ravaged hospital. Jessica didn’t feel well on the second day of … Read More
Baby Jayden is a fighter. Those are the words of his mother, Joan Parry. Jayden was born at just 23 weeks on June 19th at Holtz Children’s Hospital at Jackson Memorial. His family calls him a “miracle baby”. Like most NICU moms, Joan wasn’t expecting … Read More
Many say that the holidays are the season of miracles. ICU baby volunteers see miracles in the NICU every week. One remarkable story of survival, perseverance and love in 2017 is that of Cristiana Esteves and her husband, Sean. The couple became pregnant with twins … Read More
Meet Kermani Parker…. After 119 days in the NICU, he is finally home with his mom Nikita, dad, Francios Charles and big brother Kemonte. “Woo hoo. It’s been crazy, restless, tiredness…but I’m so happy he’s home. And my 5 year old is so helpful, always … Read More
Meet Isaac … now an eleven month old baby boy who is learning to walk and is about to celebrate his first Christmas. Isaac’s parents hoped to have a healthy pregnancy and delivery. They understood the fragility of an unborn child’s life after losing their … Read More