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Amanda

Amanda Dexter and son Ivan in the NICUMy name is Amanda and I am a NICU parent too. My son, Ivan, was born at 24 weeks and weighed just 1 pound, 8 ounces. Ivan was cared for in the NICU for almost five months, learning to do the basics like eating and breathing on his own.

Through the many ups and downs, I found strength in hearing and reading the stories of other “micro preemies” and learning how to be an active parent to a child facing the medical challenges of being born too early. For 135 days, my husband and I balanced the reality of being NICU parents while maintaining a stable home for Ivan’s two older sisters and helping them bond with their new baby brother while he was in the hospital. It was a lot to juggle but we were able to do that because of the support that we received at GCH.

Ivan as a K graduateAlthough it feels like yesterday, Ivan left the NICU in 2017 and is now a thriving boy who loves t-ball and camping.

I know that this is a hard time, but you are not alone. There are resources available for NICU parents, caregivers, and siblings.