FAMILY AND FRIENDS CELEBRATE HIS HOMECOMING
It was an emotion-filled day for two area families when Baby Van, born prematurely in early January, was finally able to be sent home from a neonatal intensive care unit.
Fifteen weeks premature, Van Steven Shifflett was born at 25 weeks gestation on Jan. 6, 2023, weighing just one pound, 10 ounces.
His parents, Todd and Alyssa Foley Shifflett, big brother Mack and big sister Lucy were at his side whenever possible as the long journey toward homecoming began.
After 139 days in the Neonatal ICU at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., Van finally made it to his rural Amity, Mo., home on Wednesday, May 24.
In what was a long-awaited day, the NICU team of medical professionals also noted Van’s graduation while family and friends celebrated his homecoming.
“It was a hard goodbye. Van’s nurses and care team had become like family,” said Van’s mother, Alyssa Foley Shifflett, on leaving the hospital. “The love they have for Van put my heart at ease when I couldn’t be with him. More often than not, when I walked into his room each morning he was being snuggled. In the evenings, I would receive photos of cuddle sessions along with many crafts his nurses would make with his hand and foot prints. Not to mention the life-saving care they provided, especially in the early weeks of Van’s life.”
After his early birth, Van’s grandparents, Ivan and Linda Foley of Platte City and Steve and Laura Shifflett of King City, rallied with support, as did numerous other family members, friends and members of the Platte County, King City, Maysville, and Wathena, Kan. communities.
Van’s parents both work in education. Alyssa is the school counselor at Maysville High School and Todd is a teacher/coach at King City High School. Van’s name popped up on prayer lists in each community and Alyssa, who was hospitalized with complications for 10 days prior to Van’s birth, said every day she could feel the love surrounding her family.
“To bring home a healthy 25 weeker is a precious miracle I will never take for granted. God carried us through some dark days, and we also rejoiced on many days when Van reached milestones and overcame obstacles,” Alyssa said.
Doctors say Van–who now weighs eight pounds–will continue to need oxygen assistance for a couple of months at home as his lungs gain strength.
“We have so much gratitude for our family, friends, church, colleagues, and neighbors who supported us in endless ways. Without the continuous support of monetary donations, meal drop offs, babysitting, dog watching, and countless prayers our lives, the last five months would have been nearly impossible to navigate,” Alyssa added. “As we sit on our couch snuggling as a family of five, still processing the emotions of the last few days, my heart is incredibly full of love and gratitude. To all of Van’s supporters along the way: thank you.”