Our deepest gratitude to Ruth and the Bronson NICU Team for all your help, love and support 

Our family welcomed our last baby, Ryder Jordyn McCabe, into the world on the evening of January 11, 2024. For the first 24 hours after her birth, she ate like a champ, but she was spitting up most of her formula. During her weight check the next day, Ryder had lost one pound due to not tolerating the formula, and her blood sugar levels were dropping. She was placed in the NICU.

When it was time for discharge, we were informed that Ryder would have to stay in the NICU until she gained weight and began eating more on her own. My husband and I stayed at the hospital throughout all the visiting hours and were heartbroken every night leaving her there, even though she was under the care of some of the most amazing people. Ryder stayed in the NICU for eight days, with ups and downs in her weight and blood sugar. She had to get a nasal tube for feeding due to not eating enough on her own.

On the eighth day of her stay, one of the nurses pointed out that Ryder would not eat very much, or at all, for most of the night shift, which made it harder for her to gain weight. We hadn’t noticed it at the time, but every time I fed Ryder, she mostly ate the amount she was supposed to, while she often refused to eat when the nurses tried. When this was pointed out to me, I called Ruth, the NICU Family Liaison. As a former NICU parent, Ruth provides peer support for current families. When she learned what was happening, she immediately worked with the nurses to make accommodations for me to stay overnight at the hospital so I could be there to feed Ryder throughout the night.

That night, Ryder made great progress, so they moved her to the step-down unit, where a family member could stay in the room. She did great—she proved she just needed her momma! We were discharged less than 48 hours after she was placed in the step-down unit.

My husband, Robert McCabe, and I would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Ruth and the Bronson NICU Team for all your help, love and support with Ryder, bringing this beautiful baby girl home to a family who loves her so much!