A one pound micropreemie gains strength with advanced NICU care in Pensacola

At 27 weeks, Daelyn’s daughter, Charlie, was born weighing just 1 pound, 14 ounces and measuring 14.1 inches long. Her NICU doctors discovered a small hole in Charlie’s heart that concerned her mother. Charlie’s care team believes it will close on its own as she grows, together they created a treatment plan for a procedure that could be performed when she is around two or three years old.

Charlie’s early struggles were difficult for Daelyn, yet the relief of watching her daughter steadily improve brought moments of light in the dark. "Charlie’s gaining weight well and is finally off the ventilator," Daelyn shared. "She’s hitting all the crucial milestones now." These small victories filled Daelyn’s heart with strength and trust in the medical team’s expertise.

Because Charlie arrived so early, her lungs were not fully developed. Doctors gave Daelyn steroid shots before delivery to help speed up Charlie’s lung development. After birth, Charlie was placed on a nasal cannula, a small tube that delivers oxygen through her nose to help her breathe. Thanks to the steroid treatment, she stabilized quickly and began her NICU care.

Charlie was transferred to the NICU at Studer Family Children’s Hospital for specialized care. The family was given a private room and was introduced to a dedicated care team of nurses to support them through Charlie’s NICU stay. “Having our own room was nice, and the nurses on Level Three were excellent. They made a great effort to help me feel comfortable and explained what everything did.” 

From the very beginning, the staff helped Daelyn feel informed, involved, and supported when every moment mattered. The NICU’s advanced technology and highly trained specialists gave Charlie the best chance at a strong, healthy start.

“I saw that Charlie was so strong. She came off the intubation and onto the nasal cannula the same day. That was amazing,” Daelyn reflected, finding hope in each small victory.

At Studer Family Children’s Hospital NICU, we provide centralized, coordinated care with a dedicated team of neonatologists, nurses, and specialists working on personalized treatment plans. We prioritize family-centered care, ensuring continuous communication with parents, 24/7 monitoring, and individual rooms to create a compassionate environment for both babies and their families.