Amanda Dexter

My name is Amanda and I am a NICU parent too. My son, Ivan, was born at 24 weeks and weighed just 1 pound, 8 ounces. Ivan was cared for in the NICU for almost five months, learning to do the basics like eating and breathing on his own.

Through the many ups and downs, I found strength in hearing and reading the stories of other “micro preemies” and learning how to be an active parent to a child facing the medical challenges of being born too early. For 135 days, my husband and I balanced the reality of being NICU parents while maintaining a stable home for Ivan’s two older sisters and helping them bond with their new baby brother while he was in the hospital. It was a lot to juggle but we were able to do that because of the support that we received at GCH.

Although it feels like yesterday, Ivan left the NICU in 2017 and is now a thriving boy who loves t-ball and camping.

I know that this is a hard time, but you are not alone. There are resources available for NICU parents, caregivers, and siblings.