Preemie born at 23 weeks goes home for Christmas after 9 months in NICU
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – After spending the first nine months of her life in the hospital, Evangeline “Evie” Statler finally went home with her loving family a week before Christmas.
“I woke up with a little bit of back pain, and I also noticed that my stomach was feeling different, like more tight and as the day went on, I started having what felt like contractions and I was really in denial that it could be real contractions,” said Madison Statler, Evie’s mother.
Madison’s daughter was born at 23 weeks and five days via emergency c-section on March 24 at Saint Francis Medical Center, almost four months before her original July 16 due date.
She was transferred to the newborn intensive care unit at Saint Louis Children’s Hospital in July to be treated for pulmonary hypertension.
According to her father, Dylan Statler, Evie was said by doctors have a 50% chance of survival, but she made great strides and was stable enough to go home with her family on December 18.
“Everybody’s happy to have her home for Christmas; grandparents, you know, aunts and uncles, her brother. It felt like we’d never get to this point, but we’re finally here,” said Dylan Statler.
“That was the Christmas gift that we wanted, was her to be home. That was really what we prayed for,” said Madison Statler.
