At Children's Mercy Kansas City, our Level IV NICU helps the most complex newborns develop into healthy kids. Kaydee, an energetic, horse-riding 10-year-old, started her journey as a premature newborn, weighing only 1 pound and 6 ounces. Baby Kaydee faced significant challenges, including severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and was transferred to our Level IV NICU at 4 months old. There, our NICU’s Chronic Lung Disease team, and Dr. Winston Manimtim, Director of the Infant Tracheostomy and Home Ventilator Program, provided the comprehensive care Kaydee needed to grow up strong. "Our practice has been to slowly transition to the home ventilator and let our patients guide us during the transition process," says Dr. Manimtim. This patient-centered approach, combined with multidisciplinary care and family support, helps even the most fragile infants overcome incredible odds. Today, Kaydee is breathing on her own and thriving on her family's ranch — a testament to the power of advanced neonatal care and the resilience of our youngest patients. Learn more about our Level IV NICU and how we're advancing neonatal care: https://cmkc.link/4f2MWVx #LevelIVNICU #NeonatalCare #ChronicLungDisease
So glad she's done so well. The home vent team and her family are both superb. So fun to see her now!
A life of Love is possible with Children's Mercy on your side 🥰
I love reading these stories. Keep them coming.
Division Chief, Neonatology at Children's Mercy Kansas City
1moLove this story! Kaydee is such an example to me of grit - I think that gene is embedded in this family!