For Stacey Watters, it took a village, a health care community that is, to help her and her husband, David De Cicco, bring their son Arlo into this world.
From in vitro fertilization to serious pregnancy complications, Stacey had been through a lot before she delivered her baby boy, Arlo, via c-section at 29 weeks.
Born weighing 3 lbs. and 3 oz, Arlo was transferred immediately to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital’s Level III NICU, where he underwent a blood transfusion and was hooked up to oxygen and a feeding tube.
The next 89 days were a rollercoaster.
“It’s not a straight course when you are in the NICU. Every day could be completely up or down,” said Stacey.
The couple made a pact that they wouldn’t ask when Arlo could come home so that the primary focus could be on providing the care he needed.
“We put our trust in the doctors and nurses who were caring for him,” said Stacey. “They always took the time to ensure we understood everything that was happening. It was obvious how much they loved and cared about Arlo.”
To cope with the fear of the unknown, Stacy and her husband prioritized their self-care by tapping into Share’s Perinatal Support Services, which are entirely funded through charitable donations. Share offers opportunities for parents to support one another, connect with former NICU families through the Parent Buddy Program, track their baby’s progress through Beads of Courage and more.
While Stacey leaned into the Parent Buddy Program for support, Beads of Courage quickly became a treasured resource. Each family is provided a long string and beads that spell out their baby’s name. As their baby progresses through treatment, they receive colored beads representing key milestones, such as the first blood draw, first time breathing without oxygen support, etc. By the end of their NICU stay, each family has a unique string of beads that tells their baby’s story.
During the weekends, Stacey and David would reflect on Arlo’s progression while adding new beads to the string.
“It was nice for us to see everything that he’d been through, while also showing the real progress he was making,” said Stacey.
Nearly three months later, Arlo weighed 8 lbs. and 9 oz. and no longer needed support to breathe or eat. He was finally ready to go home. Even though Arlo initially had some setbacks affiliated with his chronic lung disease, with the help of physical therapy and his clinical specialist team, Arlo is a happy, healthy 8-month-old.
Stacey and David said they are forever grateful for the care Arlo received and the support they were given.
“You walk into the NICU for the first time absolutely terrified not knowing what’s ahead for your child, and then you walk out with an extended family,” said Stacey.
How you can help
Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital’s NICU program is supported, in part, by philanthropy. Share Perinatal Support Services is 100% funded by charitable donations and would not exist without the continued support of generous donors.
To help families like the Watters, please make a gift today.