Callee Quire, 6 Months

On July 15, 2009, Callee entered the world seven weeks early. She weighed just over four pounds and measured 16 ¼ inches long. Within hours, Callee was transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Kosair Children’s Hospital, where she would remain for the next 30 days. It began an emotional rollercoaster for Callee’s parents, Amanda and Brandon.

For the first two weeks, Callee remained on a ventilator and was fed through a tube. She would have to take a bottle and breathe on her own, without a drop in heart rate, before she could be placed on room air. Callee’s tiny lungs would also have to strengthen and she would have to gain weight before she could leave the NICU.

“Although there were days it seemed hopeless and we thought Callee would never come home, we held on to our faith in God and encouragement from family and friends. On August 15, Callee came home! We are so blessed to have such a phenomenal facility like Kosair Children's Hospital. To Dr. Duncan, Dr. Obi, the neonatal nurses and the pediatric nurses— we are forever grateful.”

The Quire Family
Brandon, Amanda & Callee