Chanel prevails over prematurity
Charles watched anxiously as his wife, Selenea, gave birth to their new, unexpectedly early, daughter Chanel in the elevator of their community hospital. Born 16 weeks premature, Chanel was struggling to breathe, her heart barely beating as her tiny body fought just to stay alive. Weighing barely over one pound, she was given CPR and medicines to get her heart going so that she could be transported to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Children's Memorial Hospital. As a nationally recognized leader in the treatment of critically ill newborn infants, Children's Memorial had the equipment and expertise to provide the best possible care for Chanel.
The survival rate for babies born as early as Chanel is only 50 to 70 percent. Her prematurity put her at high risk for cerebral palsy, hearing loss and blindness. She was also at risk for speech delays and respiratory problems like asthma. During the 184 days that Chanel stayed at Children's Memorial, her family stayed by her side as doctors and nurses worked to ensure that Chanel would grow up to be a healthy child.
“When I got to Children's Memorial, I felt like she was in perfect hands,” said Charles.
The NICU team used the latest in research and technology to save her life. They saw her through the first six months of her life, which included heart surgery when Chanel was only one month old. Through it all, Chanel, her family and the staff at Children's Memorial did not give up hope that this baby would survive and thrive.
Six months after she arrived at Children's Memorial, Chanel went home – on her mother's birthday. Although her first year has been filled with appointments in the NICU follow-up clinic, Chanel has escaped many of the major complications associated with a premature birth.
Today, Chanel is a happy, inquisitive baby who loves to smile and clap her hands together. She's developing beautifully – and even exceeding some of her expected milestones as she emulates her older sister.
Children's Memorial Hospital seeks philanthropic funding to enhance its programs and services. As a proud partner of the Children's Miracle Network (CMN), all funds raised in the Chicago area through CMN also benefit Children's Memorial. To find out how your support can help the hospital better serve children and families, please contact the Children's Memorial Foundation at 773.880.4237 or Foundation@childrensmemorial.org.