A Mother’s Day Miracle

DALLAS, Texas - After spending 128 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, Charlee Mann is home for her first Mother's Day.

"This Mother's Day means the world to our family," said Rylee Gleich, Charlee's mother. "There was a time in our journey that we didn't know if we'd get Mother's Day together, especially at home. Being able to celebrate on this day is such a blessing."

Signs of preterm labor led Rylee Gleich and Patrick Mann of Prosper to seek emergency care at Texas Health Hospital Frisco. Born by emergency C-section Nov. 23 at just 24 weeks' gestation, Charlee weighed just 1 pound, 9.9 ounces. A baby born between 23 and 25 weeks' gestation, known as a "micro preemie," is often small enough to fit in the palm of an adult hand and requires advanced medical support. Charlee was intubated at birth and transferred to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas for further treatment.

Tiny fighter

Texas Health Dallas is equipped with a Level III NICU, offering advanced, around-the-clock care, including complex and surgical care for infants who need specialized medical attention after birth.

"Caring for very small babies is at the heart of what we do," said Christina Chan, M.D., medical director of the NICU and special care nursery (SCN) at Texas Health Dallas. "Micro preemies are among our most vulnerable patients, and because their bodies are still learning how to function outside the womb, they rely on advanced medical care, teamwork, and constant support to thrive."

Charlee spent 57 days intubated and could not be held for the first 46 days of her life due to her reliance on high-frequency ventilation, which helps babies breathe by taking very tiny, rapid breaths. This gentle approach helps protect fragile lungs while still delivering the oxygen preemies need.

"From the day we started skin-to-skin, she started to improve and thrive," Gleich said.

Helping families reach the finish line

A critical component of high-quality care in the NICU is promoting collaboration and decision-making between healthcare providers and families. In 2025, Texas Health Dallas introduced an 18-member discharge committee focused on guiding NICU families to a smooth transition home.

"Enabling parents to be involved in decision-making not only builds trust but also helps improve infant health outcomes," said Shelgwen Thomas, M.S.N., R.N., chair of the discharge and Beads of Bravery (BOB) committees. "The purpose of the committee is to build confidence. We teach parents how to independently care for their infants at home, identify any barriers and promote patient safety."

The committee also keeps parents engaged throughout their NICU stay with memory-making activities such as holiday photos and Beads of Bravery, a program that honors the milestones babies achieve during their hospital journey, from admission to discharge.

"Charlee was in the NICU for five holidays and that can definitely feel like a sad thing, because no parent expects that," Gleich said. "The holiday photos brought a sense of excitement and normalcy to spending our holidays in the NICU. If we were home, we would take our daughter to take photos with Santa. This was the hospital's way of making it feel like home, and it meant the world."

On March 31, Charlee's NICU journey reached a beautiful milestone. Surrounded by the care team who walked every step with her, she was honored with a discharge parade. "Pomp and Circumstance" played as staff members lined the unit floor.

"Our NICU care team strives to ease a family's journey by celebrating every milestone their baby achieves and providing compassionate support that helps them feel seen, supported and never alone," said Chris York, FACHE, president of Texas Health Dallas. "I'm proud of the team for the exceptional care and support they provide to every NICU family."