June 25, 2026

Reunited and it Feels so Good

Rady Children’s NICU reunions give families and caregivers an opportunity to reconnect During the days, weeks or months a young patient spends in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, doctors, nurses and volunteer caregivers become like a second family. The NICU team pours their hearts into caring for every…

Neonatology
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May 20, 2026

Born a Fighter: Lynnlee’s Journey Through the NICU and Beyond

Lynnlee’s Story Lynnlee’s journey began long before she took her first breath. At her 16-week anatomy scan, Lynnlee’s mom, Alexia, learned that her daughter had a rare condition called an omphalocele, meaning her abdominal organs were developing outside of her body. Doctors also identified a ventricular septal defect (VSD), a hole in her heart. Further…

Neonatology
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December 22, 2025

The Parks Effect: Turning Loss into Legacy

On July 15, 2016, Brock and Katy Heckmann welcomed their son, Parks Dempsey Heckmann, into the world at just 26 weeks. Born prematurely, Parks’ vital organs weren’t fully developed, and after three days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, he developed a severe brain bleed. Despite his…

Neonatology
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December 10, 2025

Care From the Heart

Rady Children’s makes sure even the tiniest patients feel the love on Valentine’s Day. The NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (NICU) at Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego is a special place. While Hospital staff provides highly specialized care for premature and critically ill newborns, they also celebrate the small moments—like a baby’s first holiday. Rady Children’s…

Neonatology
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November 4, 2025

Brave Beginnings: The NICU at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego Gives Vulnerable Newborns the Best Possible Start

For most families, the first moments of a baby’s life are filled with joy. But when a baby comes too early or needs urgent medical attention, that joy can quickly turn to fear. While most deliveries go smoothly, roughly 10% of newborns need extra support. In San Diego, that often means a transfer from the…

Neonatology
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November 3, 2025

Amazing Amir: A Premature Baby Thrives in the NICU at Rady Children’s

The majority of Blanca Cortez’s pregnancy could be described as uneventful. Ultrasounds showed that baby Amir was developing normally, and no serious issues were detected. “Amir’s dad was the one who was nauseous,” Blanca jokes. At 24 weeks, everything changed. Blanca was rushed to the hospital and gave birth to Amir. She didn’t even get…

Neonatology
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September 5, 2024

Rady Children’s and Little Heroes League: A Beacon of Hope for Premature Infants

Amir’s Story Amir was born at just over 24 weeks, marking the beginning of a long and challenging journey for both him and his family. Shortly after birth, he developed hydrocephalus, a condition where fluid builds up in the brain, leading to potentially severe complications. “Watching Amir struggle to breathe and seeing his head grow…

Neonatology
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April 23, 2024

The Story of Amazing Mia

Mia Roman’s extraordinary journey began unexpectedly early.   Born at just 25-and-a-half weeks, she weighed a mere 1 pound or just a loaf of bread. Her lungs were not ready for the outside world, and Mia’s care team at a Los Angeles hospital struggled to wean her off respiratory support despite many attempts. The team…

Neonatology
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July 10, 2023

A Collaboration Between Rady Children’s and Scripps Benefits Both New Moms and Babies

Partners in Care Laura Mello’s first pregnancy seemed like a run-of-the-mill experience until it took a dramatic turn and her premature baby required specialized care to survive. “I had an easy pregnancy in the beginning,” says Laura. “It was a boring, plain-old pregnancy and the baby was doing well. I was naïve to think that…

Neonatology
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January 2, 2023

Top-Notch Care for Newborns in Critical Need

Rady Children’s Neonatology Program combines TLC with high-tech equipment to care for critically ill infants. A baby’s due date is a day often met with anticipation and excitement. But what happens when that day comes much too early? Or when complications arise and emergency interventions are required to keep mom and baby alive? While most…

Neonatology
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January 16, 2020

Understanding Birth Defects, Risks, and Screening and Prevention Options

Whether a woman is expecting her first baby or has welcomed multiple children into the world, her pregnancy involves many considerations, from the light — such as picking a name and plotting out the perfect nursery — to the serious — such as getting recommended care and screening for birth defects. “Even with something that…

Neonatology
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December 12, 2018

A Continuum of Care: Kelly’s Story

If you take a walk by our inpatient pharmacy on the weekend, it’s likely you’ll catch Kelly Chan, a 23-year-old Doctor of Pharmacy candidate at UC San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, hard at work as an intern. For Kelly, vying for this role was an easy decision — after all, Rady…

Neonatology
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