A premature baby born 24 weeks early and weighing less than 2 pounds was finally released from hospital on Wednesday after spending 147 days in a Long Island neonatal intensive care unit.
Shine Graham was born six months prematurely at NYU Langone Hospital on Long Island, but “overcame all odds,” said NICU nurse manager Rashon Pitter, who helped organize a heartwarming graduation ceremony for the adorable baby and his family.
“We are just as excited as the family to have our baby home,” Pitter said. He told PIX 11.
According to the hospital, Shine was born weighing just 1 pound 11 ounces and remained in hospital for more than 20 weeks.
During her hospital stay, she had to breathe through a tube and had to overcome three infections, including strep throat and an E. coli infection, according to the sheriff’s office.
The newborn’s mother, Phoebe Turner, He told ABC7 She was unable to hold her baby for two months.
The Nassau County resident called her daughter’s release from NYU Langone a “blessing.”
“Shine is almost 10 pounds now and is a chubby baby,” Turner said proudly. “God has blessed us and Shine is doing great.”
Hospital staff played the graduation classic “Pump and the Situation” throughout the hospital as Shine was pushed out the front door in a stroller surrounded by doctors and nurses.
“I put my blood, sweat and tears into making sure she was OK,” Pitter told PIX11, “and that she would survive whatever the circumstances.”
“It’s hard to put into words how I feel right now,” Turner added. “I’m just happy. It’s a great day.”
