A Pound of Strength and a Miracle: Diane’s Story
When Diane entered the world, she weighed about as much as a can of soda: less than a pound. Born at just 22 weeks and 1 day gestation, she was so small that her tiny hand was the size of her dad’s fingertip. Her journey, and that of her parents, Rochelle and Curtis, was not easy. But Diane’s fight was joined by expert care, determined hearts and unwavering hope.
Just months before learning they were pregnant with Diane, Rochelle and Curtis had endured the heartbreaking loss of their stillborn son, Quinn. This and a previous pregnancy loss weighed heavily on them throughout Rochelle’s time carrying Diane.
At 14 weeks, doctors discovered that Rochelle’s cervix was opening prematurely. An emergency cerclage, a procedure to stitch the cervix closed, was performed just in time. For weeks, Rochelle continued to live life cautiously, making frequent emergency department visits as complications arose. Despite taking all precautions, Rochelle went into early labor, and on Aug. 15, Diane was born by emergency Caesarean section.
“I truly believe that losing Quinn brought me Diane, and while it is difficult to lose a child, I didn’t want it to affect our fight for Diane’s survival,” shared Rochelle. “Even being so little, Diane was strong. Looking at her, I knew we had a fighter, and we were going to fight right by her side every step of the way.”
Born at such an early stage, Diane’s odds were slim. What changed everything was Diane herself. She was pink in color, moved vigorously and even made tiny attempts to breathe on her own. These were signs of strength, and her spirit was clear from the start: she was feisty, strong and full of will. But prematurity is a rollercoaster.
“I learned that Diane had a hard lump in her stomach, and that’s when she was transferred to Valley Children’s by helicopter,” said Rochelle. “I was so scared in that moment. I will never forget how the transport nurse made me feel. She put me at ease by the way she talked to me and explained everything in such great detail. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel anxious. I just knew Valley Children’s would take good care of her.”
“Upon arrival, imaging revealed that Diane had a life-threatening hole in her intestine that required emergency surgical intervention,” explained Valley Children’s Neonatologist, Dr. David Box. “As she recovered, she faced additional complications, including a buildup of fluid in the space between her lungs and chest wall that made it hard to breathe, and later, a heart condition called patent ductus arteriosus, or PDA, that required surgery. Each of these challenges demanded coordinated, highly specialized care from our neonatal intensive care and surgical teams.”
Through every challenge, Diane proved herself to be a small but remarkable fighter. Rochelle and Curtis never left her side.
“After spending several months in the NICU, Diane was diagnosed with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, or BPD, which is common when a baby is born extremely premature because their lungs are often underdeveloped and require ventilator support,” shared Dr. Box. “As a result, Diane needed supplemental oxygen and monitoring to help her breathing and ensure her oxygen levels stayed safe.”
“When things got rough and I felt like I couldn’t cope, the care team and Dr. Box were always there for us,” said Rochelle. “I trusted Dr. Box and the care team with Diane’s life. Their faith in her gave us faith, too.”
Diane spent more than eight months in Valley Children’s NICU. She endured more procedures than most adults experience in a lifetime, but she showed remarkable spirit through it all.
At just 2 weeks old, Diane was the little girl who managed to suck her thumb. At 1 month, she learned to take a pacifier, even while intubated. Nurses often laughed about how she tugged at her breathing tubes and clung tightly to their fingers.
“Caring for a baby born at 22 weeks is one of the greatest challenges as a neonatologist, but it is also the most rewarding,” said Dr. Box. “Diane’s journey in the NICU was extraordinary, and it really highlights her strength, the love and advocacy from her parents, as well as the expertise of all the specialists at Valley Children’s who come together to care for our tiniest and most fragile patients.”
When the day finally came to go home, Diane weighed a healthy 11 pounds and needed a feeding tube and low-flow oxygen.
“Leaving was exciting but terrifying,” Rochelle said. “At Valley Children’s, we had a whole team. At home, it was just us. But we knew she was ready.”
Today, Diane is a lively, social, little girl and still as feisty as ever. She loves noisy toys, camping with family and making everyone laugh with her deep belly giggles. She’s strong-willed, funny and full of joy.
“Diane is proof of miracles,” Rochelle said. “We could have been sent anywhere, but we came to Valley Children’s, and we are so grateful for that. Valley Children’s saved our daughter’s life and treated Diane as if she were their own. They treated me like family and always went above and beyond. I was able to hold on to hope because of the care team, and even though it has been a hard journey, I wouldn’t take any of it back.”