It’s something hundreds of thousands of families in the United States go through every year. When babies are born early, they can end up spending months in the NICU getting the essential care they need.
Local 10′s Nicole Perez spoke to 33-year-old Jade Quatro, who is able to hold her now four-and-a-half-month-old baby boy Kaden.
He was born at 23 weeks.
Kaden’s due date was June 30, but he was born on March 9 at Holtz Children’s Hospital in Miami-Dade County.
Jade and her husband live in North Carolina but were in Aruba for their “Baby Moon” when Jade started to have complications.
“Fortunately, we were able to be flown from Aruba to Miami and we were able to be brought here because they were the closest for NICU. On the last day of our vacation, I was feeling totally fine, until we had some complications that night. Some bleeding and then things took a turn from there. We were there for a few days trying to coordinate getting back to the states. They told us what was wrong. My membranes had ruptured, and I was dilating. So, they explained the risks, and they don’t have a NICU there. They coordinated with Holtz on getting us here where things could look a lot different,” said Jane.
Jade told Nicole all of her checkups had been fine and there were no concerns about her traveling. Doctors told Jade and her husband this only happens in three percent of pregnancies.
“It has been a roller coaster. I’ve been here for four and a half months. It’s the most terrifying, stressful, rollercoaster of my life,” said Jade.
There has been some light in the dark tunnel for Jade and her family. She was introduced to ICU Baby, and they have been with her every step of the way.
“ICU baby is an organization that unites NICU families and offers them financial, emotional and informational support so that they can thrive in the NICU,” said Elizabeth Simonton, Executive Director, ICU Baby.
The non-profit organization helps families in five different South Florida hospitals. Simonton said it’s the perfect example of strangers helping strangers.
“Our mentor program brings veteran NICU parents into the hospital to mentor our current NICU parents and they’re able to offer their lived experience as a way to help that family that’s going through it, to guide them. It’s really nice to hear success stories from them,” said Simonton
“They had special events. We were here for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Easter. They had special events, so we could at least do something on those holidays and have some sense of normalcy,” said Jade.
At this very unexpected time in Jade’s life, away from friends and family back home, she told Nicole, as Kaden grows, he continues to defeat the odds.
“He was born at only one pound, four ounces. So, he was very tiny. He was in an incubator. He was intubated for six weeks of his life. I didn’t get to hold him until he was three weeks old because he was so high risk. He’s come a long way. He’s fully off oxygen. The only thing we’re working on is feedings. He currently gets some of his feeds through the tube in his nose,” said Jade Quatro.
The nurses told Jade that Little Kaden is a miracle. He has not required any surgeries while in the NICU and is now weighing nine pounds.
When asked what Jade would say to other moms in the same position, she said there is light at the end of the tunnel.
“It’s the craziest journey you could imagine, but very rewarding at the end, and it’s unfortunate that so many parents have to go through it. But these babies are so strong. The doctors and nurses here are amazing. I put all my trust in them, and they saved my baby,” said Jade.
Jade expects Kaden to be discharged later this week, and she will finally be able to take him home to North Carolina.
ICU Baby helps about 1,000 families a year but would like to do more.
To learn more about and/or make a donation to ICU Baby, click on this link.
If you would like to highlight a mom who makes a difference in our community, send us an email at MomToMom@wplg.com.