No mother dreams of spending those precious first months of life watching others care for her son, but LeCresha Prather has been amazed at her level of involvement in her son Makyi Dailey’s care. Makyi will celebrate his first birthday in the Dana Brown Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center on March 11.
“They let me be so interactive and involved in taking care of him,” says LeCresha. “People hear that he’s been in the hospital for a year and they ask ‘Does he even know who you are?’ but since he’s been here they let me interact with his care as much as possible. I participate in his treatment and also do what every mom does—bathe him, change his clothes, feed him, play with him.”
Makyi will celebrate his first birthday with a party from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 11 in the Dana Brown Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at SSM Cardinal Glennon.
When Makyi was born on March 11, 2009, at just 24 weeks gestation, his lungs were severely underdeveloped. At birth, Makyi weighed only 1 pound, 8 ounces, but he now weighs more than 20 pounds. He has made significant progress with the use of a tracheotomy and will go home with LeCresha to their Bellefontaine home when his lungs are strong enough.
Cardinal Glennon has all private rooms in the NICU, with beds for parents to stay with their children as often as they want. But with two kids at home, LeCresha instead works in daily visits to her birthday boy. LeCresha is a former patient care technician specializing in patients with dialysis, and she marvels at Makyi’s positive spirit despite the obstacles he has overcome.
“He is the happiest baby I have ever seen,” LeCresha says. “He’s just so playful and laughing all the time. He doesn’t cry. He’s just full of joy.”
Reporters and photo/videographers are welcome to attend the birthday party.
Ashley Wiehle
Office: 577-5693
Pager: 294-2416
Lauren Lubus
Office: 577-5615
Pager: 294-8124