Meet Holly N-R, Parent Mentor at Akron Children's
Holly's Story
I ruptured at 21 weeks and lost all amniotic fluid. I was hospitalized to deliver Kara Grace 37 days later. Kara Grace was born as a micro-preemie at 27 weeks weighing 1 lb 4 oz. She was transferred to the NICU where she was intubated for almost three months and then remained on oxygen for over a year. She had lung hemorrhages, blood transfusions, a slight hole in her heart, feeding tube, and severe lung issues. She was intubated for so long that she was not able to swallow well and ended up with a gastric feeding tube that she stayed on for over a year. She developed issues with her eyes and had surgery to begin the correction process. Kara Grace stayed in the NICU for 210 days total. She spent another total of 80 days in PICU battling pneumonia and RSV within the following few months. She had some developmental delays in walking and eating and had to attend therapy for over a year. She is now 7 years old and is growing strong and thriving. She still has many major issues with her lung development and has to live with the impact of asthma-related issues including multiple inhalers and breathing treatment plans. She suffers from migraines, acid reflux, oral aversions from time to time, and other minor issues that came from prematurity. Although the chronic lung disease is the most difficult for Kara Grace to deal with, she ultimately pushes through to the best of her ability and tries very hard to overcome whatever she can. She is in many activities to help her grow stronger and push through and strive to be her best.
Holly is a parent mentor for these conditions: Amblyopia, Asthma, Exotropia, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Migraines, Pneumonia, Prematurity, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Retinopathy of Prematurity, Thyroid Disease.
Holly is a mentor for these care services: Asthma, Allergy, Eye, Feeding and Nutrition, Pulmonary
