Triplets’ Birth Highlights Importance of NICU
9/17/2018
JOHNSON, ARK (September 17) Diagnosed with cancer while she was graduating college, Becky Reese is a survivor. However, the treatment that cured her cancer diminished her fertility and she was afraid she might never be able to have children. Expanding their family was certainly a dream of theirs when she and her husband Adam got married. “Children are one of the biggest blessings in the world,” she says. After celebrating their 5th anniversary years ago, they began the process of adoption that finally culminated last year.
In October, they were matched with an expectant mom. “A few days after we were matched we received an incredulous call from the doctor. We were so thankful! But after a few days we were given the shock of our lives - we were having triplets! This was quite a shock – we went from one to three in a split second!”
Pursuing an open adoption, the Reeses attended every future doctor appointment with plans to attend the birth at Willow Creek Women’s Hospital in Arkansas in April or May of this year.
On February 26, they drove to Arkansas for their latest appointments, then back home; at that time in Dallas. But that night, an hour after they had returned back home after a 12-hour round trip, they received the call that the babies were on their way… at just 30 weeks. After a Cesarean Section that night, the Reeses got to meet Alie Ana, 2 pounds, 7 ounces; Alexandra, 3 pounds; and Mila at 3 pounds, 1 ounce. Because of their prematurity, they were admitted to Willow Creek’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit immediately.
They finally got to go home 55 days later, but they’re coming back on Sunday, September 23, for a reunion with the physicians and staff who fought so hard to help these babies survive and thrive. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Annual Reunion is on Sunday, September 23, from 1–3:00 p.m. at the Willow Creek Medical Office Building.
The most common reason for a NICU admission is prematurity. Babies born early (less than 37 completed weeks) aren’t as physically and developmentally developed as those at 40 weeks and not able to transition to the outside environment as well as full-term babies. These babies need to remain in a controlled, enclosed environment known as an isolette or incubator, which provides heat to keep a constant body temperature similar to the uterine environment. Additionally, higher caloric food is given to these littlest of patients, along with IV hydration and other evidence-based therapies.
Willow Creek is the only dedicated women's hospital in northwest Arkansas, providing a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with 24 beds. The onsite clinical team includes board-certified neonatologists, certified neonatal nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists with specialized training in the care of fragile newborns, physical, occupational, and speech therapists, pastoral services, and social workers. The hospital also offers an ambulance solely dedicated to neonatal transports.
Alie Ana, Alexandra, and Mila were all discharged from the NICU the same day in late April to go home. It was, and is, the happiest day of Adam and Becky’s lives.
“The NICU team became my family as they took care of our babies… and us. There were days I was about to lose it and they helped me keep it together. In fact, I still talk with Juli, the occupational therapist who helped us. The experience was incredible. While I would never wish the NICU upon anyone because of what it means, I would hope everyone got to experience what we did,” according to Becky Reese.
“The greatest goal of my life is for my children to be better than me. To live a better life than my wife and I,” said Adam Reese. “To do that, they have to learn in better ways than us, and we’re the ones responsible for that. The NICU has given me the opportunity to have that experience. A lot of people say it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish; I beg to differ. It has everything to do with where you start. Without the NICU, I would never have the opportunity to teach my daughters what I know. My baby girls: you are the best part of me. To the NICU, I owe you everything.”
“My words can never adequately express the gratitude we feel to the NICU team at Willow Creek,” said Becky. “Alie Ana, Alexandra, and Mila are thriving today because of not only the level of care but the love they received during their 55 days in the NICU. We are so thankful for the friendships made and are looking forward to seeing everyone at the NICU reunion!”
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