One of the world’s smallest babies, born in Connecticut, finally came home after nine months in the hospital.
Jaimie Florio, the mother of the baby, said, “The surgeon told us he came out swinging ... He said he was the tiniest baby he’s delivered in 40 years and the feistiest.”
Doctors noticed that the Florio’s baby was falling behind in terms of growth after only 19 weeks of pregnancy, due to IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction).
Jaimie Florio was transferred to Westchester Medical Center in New York at 25 weeks. One week later, the baby’s life was at risk, and doctors had to deliver immediately or they would face the danger of stillbirth.
Dr. Dennis Davidson, unit chief of the infant floor at the Blythedale Children’s Hospital in New York, says that babies born at 500 grams have about 10 percent chance of surviving. Connor weighed only 310 grams.
Dr. Davidson explained: “A 26-week baby born at normal weight would probably have an 80 to 90 percent chance of survival today, however, Connor was less than half of the appropriate weight for a 26-week baby. Babies who are that small barely have a chance for survival.”
The parents went through a 9-month ordeal at the hospital, full of frightening complications such as a bleeding brain, a hole in his heart, and a potentially fatal infection. Connor also needed intensive respiratory support and feeding tubes as he strove to gain weight.
“I remember telling [Jaimie] that if something bad does happen, you need to enjoy the time that we did have with him,” said John. “You’ve got to smile and find the joy in everything that you do, because those moments are going to disappear, and if you don’t find the joy in them, you’re not going to want to remember them.”
After 9 challenging months in the hospital, the family is now united at home to Danbury, Connecticut. He continues to use a feeding tube, oxygen, and a monitor, taking medication eight times per day. But altogether he’s healthy and doctors expect him to be well.
“He cracks us up because he’s such a goofball. He likes to stick his tongue out. He smiles all the time. He’s got a smirk-y smile, talks,” John said, “Even if it’s one in 500, why can’t you be the one?”
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