{"id":282527,"date":"2023-01-01T15:30:06","date_gmt":"2023-01-01T21:30:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=282527"},"modified":"2022-12-30T16:38:08","modified_gmt":"2022-12-30T22:38:08","slug":"one-hand-preemie-smaller-ruler-goes-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/one-hand-preemie-smaller-ruler-goes-home\/","title":{"rendered":"‘You could hold her with one hand’: Preemie born smaller than a ruler is now home"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Pomona, New Jersey-based AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center\u2019s (ARMC) Center for Childbirth bade farewell to one of its smallest residents. After spending 35 weeks under the care of the NICU\u2019s nurses and physicians, preemie Zavannah Rodriguez finally went home to her family.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Zavannah was born on July 29th at just 23 weeks\u2019 gestation, weighing in at a mere 1 pound and 2 ounces, making her the second most premature baby born at the medical center. Although just over halfway to full term, a preborn baby of Zavannah\u2019s gestational age\u00a0 is remarkable in her development, able to hear noises outside the womb, suck her thumb, swallow, and kick. Still, preemies born that early require significant medical support.<\/span><\/p>\n

Zavannah in particular had difficulty learning to breathe, and neonatologist Dr. Jennifer Tioseco described her condition to <\/span>Atlanticare.org<\/span><\/a>: \u201cHer lungs, heart, eyes and other organs and systems were not ready for her to live outside her mother\u2019s womb.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although 24 weeks was once considered \u201cviability,\u201d as medicine and medical technology advances, babies are able to survive at earlier and earlier ages. \u201cIt is rare though we are actually getting better across the country and taking care of babies as young as this,\u201d neonatologist Dr. Ben Asiegbu added. \u201cMost times they end up with lots of complications. But look at [Zavannah] today. She looks absolutely fine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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But as Dr. Tioseco said, \u201cZavannah did the hard work.\u201d And Zavannah\u2019s mom Jenny Rodriguez agrees. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe fought,\u201d Rodriguez said. \u201cShe fought to be here with us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n