Defying the Odds: Octavia’s Journey – From Micropreemie to Miracle

How a 25-week Preemie Quintupled Her Birth Weight 

Sometimes, the strongest fighters arrive in the smallest packages. Such is the story of Octavia Jacobsen, a micropreemie who came into the world weighing less than a can of soda but has since conquered every milestone set before her.

A Tiny Arrival with a Giant Will

Octavia was born on June 12, 2024, at just 25 weeks gestation. She weighed a mere 11 ounces – so small that her first diaper was nothing more than a 2x2 gauze pad, her foot was the size of a grown-up’s pinky finger and her toes were no larger than Nerds candy.

Her early arrival was prompted by a cascade of challenges faced by her mother, Siboney. At her five- to six-month prenatal check, Siboney was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia, chronic hypertension and fetal growth restriction. The culprit: an underdeveloped placenta that failed to nourish Octavia, resulting in low amniotic fluid and a baby in distress. The medical team at Dupont Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana, made the difficult decision to deliver Octavia early, believing she had a better chance to thrive outside the womb.

“The kiddo just wasn’t growing inside,” said James Cameron, M.D., neonatologist and practice medical director at Pediatrix® Neonatology of Indiana at Northeast Indiana. “We were going to do better growing her outside than inside, which isn’t usually something that we want to do because moms are the best place, but sometimes the placenta disagrees, and we’ve got to come up with alternative plans. So, the plan was to get her delivered and try and help her grow.”

The First Breaths and Battles

When Octavia was born, things moved quickly. She needed immediate help with her breathing, so the medical team resuscitated her and started non-invasive ventilation with CPAP – she was just too tiny for the standard intubation equipment. The respiratory lead jumped into action and had a smaller laryngoscope blade shipped overnight to fit her delicate size. The next day, they were able to intubate her and give her surfactant, a life-saving intervention for micropreemies like Octavia.

That first week was agonizing for her parents, who wavered between hope and heartbreak as they watched their daughter surrounded by machines in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

“The first week of life for her was very, very scary,” recalled Siboney. “My husband and I cried at home and teared up when we saw her in the incubator. It was a lot, very fast.”

Six Months of Miracles in the NICU

Over the next six months, Octavia was a model of resilience. She journeyed from intubation to gradually weaning off respiratory support. By August, she was extubated and began transitioning to noninvasive support, eventually graduating to a low flow nasal cannula – the same type she used when she finally went home. 

She also underwent ligation surgery to correct patent ductus arteriosus, a common heart condition, a G-tube placement and umbilical hernia repair.

For Siboney, the NICU became a second home. Returning to work after six weeks, she visited Octavia daily – sometimes unable to hold her due to her fragile skin, waiting nearly a month before having her daughter in her arms.

“The staff, all the doctors and nurse practitioners, everybody was lovely to work with,” shared Siboney. “They were very supportive. Going through everything, I cried a lot. I was nervous and scared. She was my first, and I had no idea what to do about even being a parent nonetheless working with social services, setting up services outside the home and making sure I got the medical equipment all within six weeks.”

Overcoming Hurdles, Celebrating Triumphs

At discharge on Nov. 2, Octavia tipped the scales at 5 pounds, 5 ounces – over five times her birth weight. 

“It was great that she thrived and was able to grow, over quintupling her birth weight,” said Dr. Cameron. “We don’t see that often.”

Octavia’s journey didn’t end with her NICU graduation. She had 14 follow-up appointments a month for three months and underwent laser eye surgery to treat retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). With each challenge, she grew stronger.

Today, Octavia continues with occupational, physical and speech therapy at home. The family is working on weaning her off her gastronomy tube and oxygen (now only needed at night and outdoors on hot days). She can sit up by herself and has blossomed into a determined little girl.

“Overall, I think she’s doing really well,” said Siboney. “She’s learned a lot and come very far.”

One in a Melon – A Milestone Birthday

Octavia’s first birthday was celebrated in June with a “one in a melon” theme, befitting a child who is truly one of a kind. Her most recent weigh-in was an impressive 16.5 pounds – a massive leap from her fragile beginnings.

“We get pictures from some of the nurses that stay in touch, and it’s great seeing her smiling,” shared Dr. Cameron. “She’s so huge now compared to where she started. The hope is that all the babies in Octavia’s position get bigger and generate more lung volume to work with and that their stamina and reserve gets greater and greater with each passing year.”

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