Mile 7

Aiden Herrion was born at just 24 weeks gestation in Alexandria, Louisiana. Due to significant challenges of prematurity, soon after his birth, including intestinal damage and a tear in his intestines, he needed to be transferred to Manning Family Children’s, where he would receive the most advanced care possible. For micro-preemies like Aiden, highly specialized care is critical to promote the healthiest and brightest future possible. The Level IV NICU at Manning Family Children’s offers the highest level of specialized care for babies born prematurely or who are dealing with any kind of illness or complications. Over the following month, the specialists at Children’s provided the most advanced care possible to Aiden. He required two rounds of antibiotics for infections, as well as multiple blood transfusions. ​

​Like many premature babies, he received nutrition through an IV (known as TPN – total parenteral nutrition), and he remained on breathing support as his tiny lungs slowly developed. His doctors also discovered a heart murmur, and he underwent a heart catheterization procedure to repair a PDA (patent ductus arteriosus), which is a heart condition in which a small fetal blood vessel does not close properly after birth, also a common complication in premature infants. In addition, Aiden had Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), an eye disease in which abnormal blood vessels grow in the retina in babies born prematurely. He grew stronger and bigger, and the brain bleed that had been discovered in July had resolved itself. Thanks to the exceptional care provided by the neonatology team at Manning Family Children’s, Aiden went home after 6 months. Today, Aiden is two year’s old and thriving! He is off oxygen, talking more, and his mom describes him as a “little gentlemen” with knowledge beyond his years!