FAMILIARES Y AMIGOS CELEBRAN SU REGRESO A CASA
Fue un día lleno de emociones para dos familias del área cuando Baby Van, que nació prematuramente a principios de enero, finalmente pudo ser enviada a casa desde una unidad de cuidados intensivos neonatales.
Con quince semanas de anticipación, Van Steven Shifflett nació a las 25 semanas de gestación el 6 de enero de 2023, con un peso de solo una libra y 10 onzas.
Sus padres, Todd y Alyssa Foley Shifflett, su hermano mayor Mack y su hermana mayor Lucy estuvieron a su lado siempre que fue posible cuando comenzó el largo viaje hacia el regreso a casa.
Después de 139 días en la UCI neonatal del Centro Médico de la Universidad de Kansas en Kansas City, Kansas, Van finalmente llegó a su hogar rural en Amity, Mo., el miércoles 24 de mayo.
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.
Los padres de Van trabajan en educación. Alyssa es consejera escolar en Maysville High School y Todd es maestro/entrenador en King City High School. El nombre de Van apareció en las listas de oración de cada comunidad y Alyssa, que estuvo hospitalizada con complicaciones durante 10 días antes del nacimiento de Van, dijo que podía sentir el amor que rodeaba a su familia todos los días.
“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.”