On March 4th, 2015, I went into labor at just 22 Weeks and 5 days into my pregnancy. The doctors tried to do everything to stop my labor but we both became septic very quickly and she had to be taken via emergency c-section. The on call doctor advised us that she was no longer viable at that time, and she would most likely pass right away . We were very lucky that my doctor arrived in time and was willing to have her resuscitated at just 22 weeks gestation and had her transported immediately to NCH where they have the “Small Baby” program specializing in micro preemies.

They gave us immediate hope that she could survive and have a bright future.

Willow was born weighing 1lb 5oz, 10″ long , and dropped to 1lb 1oz , her eyes were fused shut for several weeks before finally opening for the first time.

At 1 week old , and fighting hard just to stay alive she then had to undergo her first procedure for a perforated bowel that caused her to become septic once again . She was given a low chance of survival but they never stopped trying to give her the best treatment possible.

Several months later she had undergo another surgery on her bowels , then on her eyes to treat Retinopathy of Prematurity, and a last surgery for a Gtube.

Willows biggest obstacle during her NICU stay was her lungs, due to developing severe Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia. She spent 4.5 months on the Ventilator before making it to CPAP, and then almost 2 month later, she graduated to a Nasal Cannula.

Willow was able to finally come home after 236 days of many ups and downs in the NICU. She came home on 0.9 lpm of Oxygen on a Nasal Cannula , a Gtube to assist with feedings, weekly Physical Therapy, and monthly follow ups with the BPD Clinic at NCH .

Now a year after coming home she is a happy, thriving toddler that loves to play and steal her big sisters toys . She has been discharged from Physical Therapy due to her amazing development, off oxygen during the day, and no longer uses her Gtube!  We hope to have her off Oxygen at night in the next month, and as soon as winter is over she will have her Gtube removed as well.

Our baby went from an unviable, sick, 22 week preemie and transformed into an energetic, spirited and smart toddler, all thanks to the amazing NICU, BPD Unit/Clinic staff at Nationwide Children’s Hospital for never giving up.

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• Name: Willow N.Willow Noland
• Condition(s): Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD), Prematurity
• Age at Treatment: 0 days
• Age Today: 03/04/20159 Years

On March 4th, 2015, I went into labor at just 22 Weeks and 5 days into my pregnancy. The doctors tried to do everything to stop my labor but we both became septic very quickly and she had to be taken via emergency c-section. The on call doctor advised us that she was no longer viable at that time, and she would most likely pass right away . We were very lucky that my doctor arrived in time and was willing to have her resuscitated at just 22 weeks gestation and had her transported immediately to NCH where they have the “Small Baby” program specializing in micro preemies.

They gave us immediate hope that she could survive and have a bright future.

Willow was born weighing 1lb 5oz, 10″ long , and dropped to 1lb 1oz , her eyes were fused shut for several weeks before finally opening for the first time.

At 1 week old , and fighting hard just to stay alive she then had to undergo her first procedure for a perforated bowel that caused her to become septic once again . She was given a low chance of survival but they never stopped trying to give her the best treatment possible.

Several months later she had undergo another surgery on her bowels , then on her eyes to treat Retinopathy of Prematurity, and a last surgery for a Gtube.

Willows biggest obstacle during her NICU stay was her lungs, due to developing severe Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia. She spent 4.5 months on the Ventilator before making it to CPAP, and then almost 2 month later, she graduated to a Nasal Cannula.

Willow was able to finally come home after 236 days of many ups and downs in the NICU. She came home on 0.9 lpm of Oxygen on a Nasal Cannula , a Gtube to assist with feedings, weekly Physical Therapy, and monthly follow ups with the BPD Clinic at NCH .

Now a year after coming home she is a happy, thriving toddler that loves to play and steal her big sisters toys . She has been discharged from Physical Therapy due to her amazing development, off oxygen during the day, and no longer uses her Gtube!  We hope to have her off Oxygen at night in the next month, and as soon as winter is over she will have her Gtube removed as well.

Our baby went from an unviable, sick, 22 week preemie and transformed into an energetic, spirited and smart toddler, all thanks to the amazing NICU, BPD Unit/Clinic staff at Nationwide Children’s Hospital for never giving up.