From the Blog
How a mother rediscovered herself while her premature daughter defied the odds
When Danielle Graf gave birth to her daughter Winona prematurely, life was anything but easy. Danielle was already navigating long-term recovery from substance use disorder and struggled with stress management and mental and physical health. The challenges she faced seemed overwhelming.
Yet, from Winona’s stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Beacon Children’s Hospital in South Bend, Indiana, emerged a powerful story of transformation. As Danielle learned to care for her daughter, she also began to love herself again.
“I think Winona saved Danielle’s life,” Kimberly Brathwaite, M.D., neonatologist at Pediatrix® Neonatology of Indiana at Michiana, said. “She was on a path that she didn’t want to be on, and she recognized that and was able to bring herself out of it. It’s a really great story of two people who needed each other and fought to get through.”
The Fight for Survival
Danielle’s pregnancy took a critical turn when she was diagnosed with preeclampsia, which escalated into HELLP syndrome – a serious, life-threatening condition. An emergency cesarean section was performed on May 30, 2021, and Winona entered the world at just 25 weeks gestation, weighing only 13 ounces.
“She came out fighting,” Dr. Brathwaite recalled. “Winona was a feisty kid from the beginning. She really has the personality of Danielle in that.”
Winona required a ventilator, and her tiny size made even finding suitable equipment a challenge. But when she was finally able to breathe on her own, she began to grow stronger. Despite a postnatal CMV infection that affected her liver, Winona continued to fight.
During her own recovery from HELLP syndrome, Danielle was able to stay close to Winona in a couplet care room in the NICU. Even after being discharged, Danielle remained nearby at the Ronald McDonald House, visiting her daughter every day.
“Winona had a long road ahead of her, but she was really strong right from the start,” Danielle shared. “She made steady, slow growth and exceeded every expectation that was set before her over and over again. Not to say that it wasn’t a huge fight because it was by all means a battle for her.”
Beating the Odds
After 129 days in the NICU, Winona finally graduated on Oct. 5 – a date made even more special as it was Dr. Brathwaite’s birthday. Winona returned home, still requiring oxygen and a feeding tube for some time.
“By all accounts, she beat the odds,” Danielle said. “The team did everything in their power to push forward and were so awesome about including me in the process. I really felt supported as a mother. I was not feeling great about myself during that time in my life and I didn’t know if I was going to be a good mom or not. The team saved my daughter’s life, but they really validated me, too.”
Thriving Against All Expectations
Today, Winona is four years old and thriving. Despite her extreme prematurity, she hasn’t faced significant health issues and is excelling in preschool.
“She still has that feisty personality today,” Danielle said. “She is a go-getter and by far the smallest kid at preschool, but she’s the fastest. That’s my girl!”
Danielle remains deeply grateful for the unwavering support she received. “As a single mother with not a whole lot of support, what was very special was that the doctors, nurses and everyone who was on the team really supported me as a mom in my efforts to support my daughter,” she reflected. “I really found my place in this world as a mom to her.”
A New Purpose
Inspired by her journey, Danielle now works as a licensed and credentialed recovery peer, using her lived experience to help others achieve wellness. Her mission is clear: to support moms who are struggling and remind them they are not alone.
“I kind of had that time while Winona was in the NICU to rediscover myself and start to learn to love myself again as I learned to love my daughter,” Danielle explained. “It absolutely shaped a lot of my recovery today. That experience was really special; super traumatic and terrifying at first, but we knew she was going to make it. I couldn’t be prouder of my daughter for how hard she fought and just incredibly grateful for the team at Beacon supporting me as I also fought my own battle.”
A Lifelong Bond
The connection between Danielle and Dr. Brathwaite has endured, a testament to the strength found in adversity. Dr. Brathwaite continues to be inspired by Danielle’s resilience: “Danielle has fought for so much. Her story shows that people can fight through anything, and she’s definitely done that. We played our part in saving Winona’s life, but she was there every step of the way and that is the reason Winona has done so well.”
Danielle and Winona’s story is a powerful reminder of the strength found in love, hope and the unwavering support of a dedicated care team.
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