100+ days of hope and joy: PMCH celebrates major milestone for micro-preemie baby

Peyton Manning Children's Hospital (PMCH) in Evansville is highlighting a story of resilience, family strength, and compassionate care as baby Avery Phillips marks a major milestone in her Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) journey.

Born at just 25 weeks and 3 days due to complications from HELLP Syndrome, baby Avery weighed only 1 pound, 5.9 ounces. She has been receiving specialized, around-the-clock care in the hospital's NICU ever since.

For families navigating long-term stays in the NICU, the experience transforms everyday life. Yet, through every hurdle, Avery's family credits the hospital's medical team with bringing hope, comfort, and extraordinary clinical care into their daily routine.

"Our experience has been phenomenal," said Avery's mom, Kaci Phillips. "We couldn't have asked for a better, more knowledgeable team of doctors, nurses, and therapists to care for our baby. Her NICU journey has affected almost every part of our daily lives. We have learned to take things one day at a time and celebrate every milestone, no matter how small. While it has been emotionally challenging, it has also made us more grateful and more intentional about spending time together as a family."

Extended hospital stays often mean missing out on traditional newborn experiences, such as early baby photoshoots. To help bridge that gap and bring light to the journey, the clinical team at Peyton Manning Children's Hospital surprised Avery's parents on her 100th day in the NICU.

Taking inspiration from popular Pinterest and TikTok trends, the doctors and nurses crafted a custom "100-day hat" and dressed Avery up as an adorable "little old lady" for a surprise photoshoot.

"We had no idea until we showed up to see her that morning!" Kaci recalled. "While we may not have traditional newborn photos due to her extended stay, we are incredibly grateful to the doctors and nurses who celebrated these small milestones with us and ensured we have photos we will cherish as she grows older."

The gesture highlights the whole-person approach to pediatric and neonatal care at Peyton Manning Children's Hospital, where caregivers strive to nurture not only the physical health of their tiny patients, but also the emotional well-being of the entire family.