Micropreemie Born At 23 Weeks Gestation Goes Home After 345 Days In NICU


Trevor Frolek is Becky Frolek’s “little miracle,” as he was born when she was just 23 weeks pregnant. The tiny boy weighed just one pound and six ounces at birth, and was so small that his dad’s wedding ring fit over his foot. Despite all odds, Trevor is finally heading home after spending nearly a year in the NICU at Essentia Health in Fargo, North Dakota.

Today reports that micropreemie Trevor was a fighter from the start. The baby was so small at just 23 weeks gestation when he was born that he had to be wrapped in plastic wrap to keep warm. Nurses at the NICU say they had just 15 minutes to prepare for the birth of Trevor and that like most babies born so early, he could not breathe on his own and needed to be placed on a life-support machine.

Trevor’s mother Becky says that she was initially afraid to look at her new son as she was scared of what she might see. However, she says she was quickly surprised by how “human-like” he was despite being born so early.

“It was scary but he was more human-like than I expected. All his fingers, all his toes, everything was there just so tiny. His skin was so transparent and fragile.”

Despite making it through the risky delivery, Trevor was not in the clear. Initially, the family says it was minute-by-minute and hour-by-hour on the baby’s health status. The tiny Trevor had to have heart and eye surgery for problems common to micropreemies as well as battled with extremely fragile lungs. Therefore, the baby’s NICU stay was extended, passing his scheduled due date and continuing on for nearly a year. Finally, after 345 days in the hospital, Trevor was sent home with his doting parents.

Dr. Christine Gleason, a neonatologist and medical adviser to March of Dimes says though 345 days is long, it isn’t a record. In fact, there have been babies in the hospital for over two years after birth.

So what is next for Trevor and his family? Apparently, Trevor, despite his small size, will be a big brother. Becky says she is pregnant and soon Trevor will have a little brother or sister.

[Image Credit: Facebook]

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