Hi, I’m Brittani, the proud mommy of this little miracle. When I was just 16 weeks pregnant, my water broke. I looked at the ultrasound screen and saw no fluid surrounding my baby boy…but there was a strong lively heartbeat. My doctor informed me that I was likely to go into labor soon and deliver my baby to pass in my arms. I was devastated. But a week passed, then another, and another….this boy stayed put in my belly for 10 more long weeks before being delivered at 26 weeks old, weighing a whopping 1 lb 14 oz! I’ve never seen such a tiny thing. We spent 109 days in the NICU (4 hours from home and my 13 month old daughter) and finally came home with a bit of oxygen support for his tiny underdeveloped lungs. He has “Chronic lung disease” which just means he will always be more susceptible to respiratory illnesses. He caught a virus after being home with us for only 4 months. Right back to the hospital we went….via life flight. 12 more days fighting for his life. But we made it! He is now 1 year old and doing so amazing! Here’s what they don’t tell you about having a NICU baby….the bills don’t stop coming. His NICU stay was almost a million dollars before insurance, after insurance left me with a balance of about $8,500. Then the life flight that happened 4 months later turned out to be out-of-network…around $30k. He also has check ups every 3 months to make sure he’s growing. It’s never ending. I’ve tried to keep up with monthly payments to all of them, but to no avail. I owe so many different medical facilities it’s impossible to keep up. I would love to enjoy this time with my little boy without the stress of these massive bills. Anything helps!
