LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- September is NICU Awareness Month, and doctors are raising awareness about the important, life-saving work that happens at Norton Children's Hospital in Louisville every day.
Support for babies fighting for their lives in the neonatal intensive care unit takes many forms.
Norton Children's Hospital cares for hundreds of premature babies every year, including Kaden Robinson.
"I was always told he wouldn't make it," said Kaden's mom, Sylvia Robinson.
He was born four months before his due date at just 1 pound, 5 ounces. His name, Kaden, fits his story.
"In Hebrew, Kaden meant fighter," said Sylvia Robinson. "And I said, well, he definitely fought to be here."
For months, Kaden fought in the neonatal intensive care unit at Norton Children's. Twelve years later, Robinson said she's grateful for the support hospital staff provided to her and Kaden during the long stay.
IMAGES | Louisville youngster thriving 12 years after premature birth in NICU
Pictured: this undated image shows Kaden Robinson with his father's hand in the NICU unit at Kosair Children's Hospital before it became Norton's Children's Hospital. (Family Photo - Sylvia Robinson)
Pictured: this undated image shows Kaden Robinson in the NICU unit at Kosair Children's Hospital before it became Norton's Children's Hospital. (Family Photo - Sylvia Robinson)
Pictured: this undated image shows baby Kaden being bottle fed by his father Donald in the NICU unit at Kosair Children's Hospital before it became Norton's Children's Hospital. (Family Photo - Sylvia Robinson)
Pictured: tiny footprints from preemie baby Kaden, who spent several weeks in the NICU unit at Kosair Children's Hospital before it became Norton Children's Hospital. (Family Photo - Sylvia Robinson)
Pictured: this undated image shows Kaden in the NICU unit at Kosair Children's Hospital before it became Norton's Children's Hospital. (Family Photo - Sylvia Robinson)
Pictured: this undated image shows Kaden, 12 years after he spent several weeks in the NICU unit at Kosair Children's Hospital in Louisville, Ky., before it became Norton's Children's Hospital. (Family Photo - Sylvia Robinson)
Pictured: this undated image shows baby Kaden with a stuffed UofL Cardinal mascot in the NICU unit at Kosair Children's Hospital before it became Norton's Children's Hospital. (Family Photo - Sylvia Robinson)
Pictured: this undated image shows Kaden, 12 years after he spent several weeks in the NICU unit at Kosair Children's Hospital in Louisville, Ky., before it became Norton's Children's Hospital. (Family Photo - Sylvia Robinson)
Pictured: this undated image shows Kaden in the NICU unit at Kosair Children's Hospital before it became Norton's Children's Hospital. (Family Photo - Sylvia Robinson)
Pictured: this undated image shows a smiling, thriving Kaden in the NICU unit at Kosair Children's Hospital before it became Norton's Children's Hospital. (Family Photo - Sylvia Robinson)
Pictured: this undated image shows a maturing Kaden with two nurses from the NICU unit at Kosair Children's Hospital before it became Norton's Children's Hospital. (Family Photo - Sylvia Robinson)
Pictured: this undated image shows baby Kaden being bottle-fed by his mother, Sylvia Robinson, after he spent weeks in the the NICU unit at Kosair Children's Hospital before it became Norton's Children's Hospital. (Family Photo - Sylvia Robinson)
"They're there to help a lot of families during their crucial moments, when you're needing the extra support, when you're new to everything, they're there to give you the extra support and say 'everything will be alright,'" she said.
Now, Kaden is thriving.
"He's 12 now, he's doing a lot of things that normal kids do at 12," said Sylvia Robinson. "That a lot of people said he wouldn't do."
Babies may spend time in a NICU for a number of reasons.
"Any babies that come with any kind of disorder or any kind of malformation, any kiddos needing supplements, oxygen, will come here," Rachaele Warden, RN at Norton Children's, said.
Norton said 1,100 babies spend time in its NICU each year, which has increased over the last few years. Doctors at Norton said they saw a decrease during the pandemic, however, post-pandemic they've seen a jump to pre-pandemic numbers and higher. They said that may have to do with a mix of things, including what's going on in a mother's life and the amount of stress she's under, or her own health, that can bring a pre-term labor or "anatomical anomalies" that may be cared for in the NICU.
"For a lot of people, they don't understand how medically fragile the babies can be and how stressful it can be for the family," said Warden. "So they definitely need support all around."
That includes support from the community.
Jill Schurman spends her time creating comfort for families meeting their infants a little earlier than expected. Strand by strand, she crochets tiny hats for babies in the NICU.
"It spoke to me, as a mom," said Schurman. "I didn't have a preemie, but I can't imagine. And it's something to do with extra yarn."
Over the years, she's created thousands of hats for infants at hospitals across the area.
"It picks up, maybe in the winter and the colder months, but they need them all year round for warmth," Schurman said.
There's always a need for more people to help string together hope for healthy futures.
To find out how you can donate baby hats or materials to make the hats, click here.
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