From one pound to home after NICU stay

Las Vegas, Nev  — A miracle in the making is heading home. Baby Aaron, born at just 22 weeks gestation and weighing a mere 1 pound 1 ounce, has defied all odds during his 4.5-month stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Sunrise Children’s Hospital. On July 2, Baby Aaron was discharged into the arms of his joyful parents and big sister, now weighing 5 pounds 10 ounces and ready to continue his journey at home.

Born on February 18, four months before his original due date of June 18, Baby Aaron's story is a testament to the skill and compassion of the Sunrise Children’s Hospital NICU team and the strength of his family.

“Babies born this early face immense challenges, and yet Aaron showed us every single day that he was a fighter,” said Dr. Caren Lipsky, one of the neonatologists who cared for Aaron. “to see him go home with family, without any medical equipment, is truly remarkable – this is why we do what we do.”

The Sunrise Children’s Hospital NICU is the largest and most advanced in Nevada, offering cutting-edge care for more than 1,000 babies every year. Opened in 1974 as the state’s first NICU, the 72-bed unit remains the only hospital in Nevada to offer Neonatal ECMO, a lifesaving treatment for infants with critical heart and lung conditions. The hospital is also home to the state’s only pediatric heart surgery program and a dedicated neonatal transport team available 24/7 to bring the most fragile patients to Sunrise from across the region.

Aaron’s discharge marks not just the end of his NICU stay, but the beginning of a beautiful new chapter for his family.

“We are so grateful for every nurse, doctor and therapist who cared for our son like he was their own,” said Aaron’s mom. “They gave us hope when it felt like we had none. Now, we get to bring our baby home.”

Baby Aaron’s journey is one of hope, resilience and the extraordinary capabilities of neonatal medicine and a reminder that miracles happen every day inside Sunrise Children’s Hospital.