NICU JOURNEYS
Our NICU Journey: Samy’s Story
Hello! We’re Meher and Sri, Samy’s parents. We’d like to share her story in the hope it brings strength or comfort to another family walking a similar path.
The Unexpected Turn
In the summer of 2011, we were preparing for a normal delivery, completely unaware of what the NICU was. We were focused on the small things, not realizing how unprepared we were for the unexpected.
Within a few minutes, everything changed. Samy was delivered via emergency C-section due to neonatal asphyxia, a condition where the baby does not receive enough oxygen before, during, or just after birth. She had to be resuscitated and transferred to a NICU at another hospital, just miles away. Doctors gave her only a 25% chance of normal development. We were heartbroken.
The NICU Chapter
Samy was placed on a cooling blanket, an emerging treatment at the time. The next 17 days were a blur of fear, uncertainty, and overwhelming hope. We didn’t know what to expect or what questions to ask. We simply held on, day by day.
We couldn’t be with her 24/7, which made it even harder. Each trip to the NICU brought fresh waves of anxiety. But the incredible healthcare professionals at Medical City Dallas were a gift. Their care, compassion, and clear communication gave us peace when everything else felt out of our hands. Their words, along with our support system of family and friends, helped us carry on.
Coming Home
The day Samy came home is one we’ll never forget. We were overjoyed and also afraid of what the future might hold. For three years, we tracked every movement, questioned every milestone, and worried constantly. Slowly, we found the courage to believe she would be okay. Life moved forward, and the developmental checkups began to fade.
Looking Back, Moving Forward
For years, we didn’t talk much about those early days, they were too painful. But once Samy was old enough to understand her journey, we began to reflect. That experience changed our family. It gave us perspective and taught us what truly matters.
Today, we are deeply grateful to the doctors, nurses, and staff who gave Samy the chance to thrive. We feel a strong calling to give back, and we’re so proud that Samy shares that same purpose. We’re in this wholeheartedly, together.
Keep faith. Hold on to hope. You are not alone.
- Meher and Sri (Samy's Parents)
My name is Michelle, and I am a mother whose journey with the NICU has shaped my mission to support other parents navigating similar paths. My daughter, Brielle, was born at 27 weeks and spent 127 days in the NICU at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. Despite the overwhelming statistics and challenges preemies face, I held a steadfast belief in my heart that she would beat the odds.
The transition from the hospital to home was anything but smooth. Brielle struggled to gain weight as quickly as the doctors hoped. Soon, concerns grew about her gross motor milestones. At 14 months corrected age, an MRI confirmed that Brielle had cerebral palsy spastic diplegia. The diagnosis was a heavy blow, and I found myself grappling with immense guilt. Questions haunted me: Was I too stressed during my pregnancy? Did I not rest enough?
However, I knew I couldn't dwell in self-blame. I had to summon every ounce of strength and determination to fight for Brielle's future. I turned to my faith, asking God for guidance and the strength to navigate this new reality. I focused on understanding what lay ahead and how best to support my daughter.
Today, Brielle's journey and my own experiences fuel my passion to help other parents who find themselves in the NICU and beyond. I offer emotional support and guidance, empowering them to navigate their own journeys with resilience. Together, we face the challenges and celebrate the milestones, always striving for a bright and hopeful future.
- Michelle Ross
Our daughter Silvana Quinn (Silvie) was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck combined with meconium in her lungs (meconium aspiration). This combination lead to severe PPHN - Persistant Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn; a life-threatening illness. Silvie was transported to Salah Foundation Children's Hospital at Broward Health in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. This Level 3 NICU had a team of nurses, doctors and therapists that worked on Silvie day and night.
There were countless sleepless nights where we held our breath until the morning. Intubation, paralysis, oscillator, blood transfusions, ventilators, extubation, c-pap, respiratory therapy, nasal cannula, feeding tubes, steroids, sedation, pain management, withdrawals, learning to feed, Galactosemia issues, MRIs, EEGs, Thrush and the list goes on and on...
I made a promise to both myself and to Silvie "If Silvie survives, I will pay it forward". Throughout December and January Silvie fought for her life and was finally discharged January 31, 2016. The staff was amazing, the nurses were her second mothers and the doctors were miracle workers.
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- Anonymous
Our pregnancy with our first son didn't start as easily or quickly as we hoped, it certainly wasn't the struggle many face, but, that said, when we were met with an incredibly uneventful pregnancy we were thrilled. So, when a very early morning, at 34.5 weeks, the day before Halloween, suggested a trip to the hospital we didn't know to think any concern. We learned my water had broken so we needed to get comfortable, we, or at least I, wouldn't be returning home pregnant. To say we were unprepared in every way is an understatement. We came to the hospital with a phone charger, nothing else, I wasn't prepared to start maternity leave, we didn't know what (or if) to tell our family, we hadn't taken birthing classes, but here we were.
The plan was to try and keep the baby in utero for 48 hours to give steroids the chance to accelerate lung development but less than 24 hours in, our son arrived, small but mighty, Given his timing and size he needed to be taken immediately to the NICU. I didn't get to hold him until hours after he was born, my husband immediately left me to head with our team to the NICU.
I will forever feel blessed that every day of his stay he found a box to check and get one day closer to home but the uncertainty and loneliness of that beginning was something for which I was unprepared.
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- Anonymous
Our family has experienced two very different NICU journeys. Our oldest son was born full term but had breathing complications due to meconium aspiration and spent over a week in the NICU. Our younger son was born at 36 weeks and had a shorter stay to monitor and stabilize his blood sugar levels. Both times were filled with fear and uncertainty, but also deep gratitude. The care, compassion, and expertise of the NICU staff made all the difference in helping our boys through those critical first days. We’ll always be thankful for the support we received during those challenging times.
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- Anonymous​​​