NICU Staff Saves Tiny Lives

Caroline Cooper was born weighing 1 pound, 14 ounces. Today, Caroline is a spunky 8 year old—thanks to Texas Children’s.

Caroline Cooper was born weighing 1 pound, 14 ounces. She was 13 inches long. Her mother Katie recalled, “She was so tiny that she fit in the palm of my hand.” Thus began a long journey as Caroline spent 102 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Texas Children’s.

Katie and her husband Ryan spent those early days supporting their baby girl in every way they could and holding her as much as possible. One day, something happened that could have been devastating. “I was holding Caroline when she stopped breathing and started turning blue,” recalled Katie. “I felt so helpless, but the nurse was right there. She calmly took her out of my hands and resuscitated her.”

After many staff members had examined Caroline to ensure the crisis had passed, that nurse found Katie to reassure her that she’d done nothing wrong and explained that the incident was a common one for babies in the NICU.

Today, Caroline is a spunky 8-year-old who enjoys bossing her baby sister Natalie. Because of her prematurity, Caroline does have some mild challenges with motor skills, but she is doing great thanks to the physical therapy she receives at the hospital.

Caroline’s parents tell others, “Your child is going to get the most amazing care here. Those doctors and nurses know what they’re doing,” said Katie. “We feel certain that without Texas Children’s, Caroline’s outcome would have been very different.”