Micro-preemie ready to head home after more than a year in the hospital
A premature baby who was just one pound at birth is heading home after spending more than 400 days in the hospital.
Key Takeaways:
Barrett Brasfield was born via emergency c-section in June 2024, when his mom, Carli, was just 26 weeks pregnant.
Barrett faced a host of medical challenges due to his early arrival, but was able to pull through.
His family expects to bring him home for the first time on July 14.
The Details:
Barrett weighed just one pound at birth, after his mom Carli had to undergo an emergency c-section at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, at 26 weeks pregnant. He faced lung issues and infections because of his early birth, resulting in a prolonged hospital stay.
“You’re in the fight of your life. It just started from the day he was born. It was just what can we do to help him get home,” Carli Brasfield said.
Over the course of his hospital stay, Barrett faced several illnesses which continually setback his discharge date. Now, however, after making slow but steady progress, Carli and her husband, Roman, expect to be able to take Barrett home for the first time on July 14.
Roman told Cleveland 19 the family has had Barrett’s nursery set up for months — and they can’t wait to bring their son home.
“It’ll be an amazing moment to take him home and cross the threshold of our home with him for the first time. We’ve had a nursery set up for months. It’s been great to see him in his room and experience that,” Roman said.
His parents also say that although their son has spent his entire life in the hospital, he hasn’t let that slow him down.
“He laughs, he plays, he rolls, he is sitting up, he eats … he is so full of joy. You would never believe he has been in the hospital for 400-plus days because he is just so full of life,” they said.
Go Deeper:
Little Barrett’s life is a testimony to the medical advancements that have made premature survival possible; with proper medical care, many premature infants like Barrett are able to survive, despite their early arrivals.
Read more about some of these amazing infants here:
Human Interest·By Bridget Sielicki
