Meet the Ontiveros Diazes
NICU mama Gema had just reached 23 weeks the day she was admitted to the hospital. She remembers being so excited that night to make it to another week because she was getting closer and closer to her delivery date.
Once she got to the hospital, they learned that she started dilating very early and that her and baby were at risk for infection. After 4 days of being in the hospital and praying they’d be able to make it until at least 28 weeks since viability statistics were higher at that gestational age, they were told they would need to prepare for a c-section.
Joaquin was born 16 weeks early at 23 weeks and 4 days weighing just 1 lb 9.9 oz, which for a micro preemie they were told was bigger than expected. After the traumatic experience of birth and some NICU scares, they felt blessed to welcome him into this world and to be able to continue watching him grow bigger and stronger every day.
Regardless of being a micro preemie, he is full of resilience and strength like nothing they’ve ever seen.