Former NICU Baby Sports a Helmet with a Heartwarming Message

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A touching photo of a preemie in a custom helmet is capturing hearts and spreading a meaningful message. Recently, a mother named Sarah posted a delightful image of her 8-month-old daughter in the Facebook group, Pantsuit Nation. In the snapshot, the baby proudly wears a cranial helmet adorned with the phrase “Nevertheless she persisted” crafted in colorful stickers.

In the accompanying caption, Sarah offers encouragement to fellow NICU parents. “To all the NICU families,” she shares, “This past year has been the hardest of my life, but it brought one major silver lining, shown below. My little girl was born with health challenges that required extensive medical interventions that ultimately saved her life. We received some daunting news from the doctors, but through all the ups and downs, she persisted.” The post quickly garnered thousands of likes and supportive comments.

Unless you’ve been living off the grid, you might recall that “Nevertheless, she persisted” became a rallying cry after Majority Leader Mitch McConnell silenced Senator Elizabeth Warren during the nomination process of Jeff Sessions for Attorney General.

Sarah’s daughter has truly exemplified persistence. About halfway through her pregnancy, she learned there was a blood incompatibility that couldn’t be fixed with a rhoGAM shot, putting her baby at risk for premature birth or miscarriage. “We had to trek 1.5 hours to a specialty hospital because no one else wanted to take on our case,” she explained. “She ended up needing two intrauterine transfusions. Just imagine one doctor maneuvering the baby with an ultrasound while another inserts an 8-inch needle to inject donor blood into a tiny vein.” For the second transfusion, the doctors had to locate a vein while her baby was still in the womb, all without anesthesia—talk about nerve-wracking!

Despite all the efforts, Sarah’s daughter was born 1.5 months early, with dangerously high bilirubin levels. “She required what’s called an exchange transfusion,” Sarah recalls. Thankfully, her liver began to function on the fifth day of life.

After eventually graduating from the NICU, her daughter still faces some health hurdles. The elevated bilirubin levels left her with a slight greenish tint to her skin, and she now sees multiple specialists and undergoes various therapies. She was referred to a cranial helmet specialist due to plagiocephaly.

Initially, Sarah was less than thrilled about the idea of her daughter wearing a helmet for 23 hours a day. “Honestly, I was worn out,” she said. “I just wanted things to be normal for her. It felt unfair for my baby, who had already endured so much, to wear a helmet.” However, after witnessing the positive results, her perspective shifted. “Seeing the before and after photos made it worthwhile, but I’ll admit it does interfere with cuddle time.”

The inspiration for decorating her daughter’s helmet with such an empowering phrase struck Sarah while she was watching Senator Warren speak on the day she was silenced. “When Mitch McConnell’s remark became a rallying cry, I thought, ‘That’s the perfect phrase for my little warrior,’” she recalled.

The photo of her beaming daughter has received numerous reactions, but one comment stood out. A doctor, whom Sarah affectionately calls “The Fairy Godmother,” who performed several of the exchange transfusions, saw the post online and said it gave her goosebumps. Sarah is incredibly grateful for the extensive medical team that has been a part of her daughter’s journey, and it’s clear that her daughter has made a lasting impact on them too.

Given that her daughter was born out of state and continues to require therapies, the family is facing significant medical expenses. A friend has set up a GoFundMe to assist them.

Sarah hopes that her daughter, along with the message on her helmet, can inspire other parents navigating the NICU and health challenges. “Here she is, still in physical therapy and receiving the support she needs. But if she can persist, so can we, right?”

“For all those little ones, all the parents holding their breath, remember: you have to persist.”

Summary:

In a heartwarming story, a mother named Sarah shares the inspiring journey of her NICU baby, who wears a helmet with the powerful message “Nevertheless she persisted.” Despite facing significant health challenges, Sarah’s daughter exemplifies resilience, and the family’s story serves as encouragement for other NICU parents. With ongoing medical expenses, support is being gathered through a GoFundMe, and Sarah hopes her daughter’s journey can inspire others.