On June 20, 2024, Nathaniel and Elizabeth Cunningham welcomed their fourth daughter, Felicity Ray Cunningham, to the world. She arrived 10 weeks ahead of schedule at 30 weeks gestation, and she weighed just 3 lbs. She was born at the UCHealth Memorial Hospital North in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She was then transferred to the NICU at Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs. Complications started early in Elizabeth’s pregnancy, when doctors discovered there were issues with the placenta during the 19-week scan. This led to 10 weeks of "bed rest" for Lizi (or as close to it as one can get with 3 small girls in your care). However, the placental issues still led to weakening of the amniotic sac and Lizi was hospitalized with pPROM on June 15th. Because Felicity was not in distress at the time, they decided the best course of action at that point was to transfer Lizi from Montrose Memorial Hospital to a larger hospital for specialist care. She was put on an emergency care flight to Colorado Springs, where they hoped to delay delivery until at least July 15, when she would reach 34 weeks gestation and the risks of prematurity complications would decrease significantly. They were able to delay delivery for just 5 more days in the hospital, and then Felicity made her entrance at just 30 weeks gestation. Felicity has thrived in the first 2 weeks of her life, showing us all just how undeniable a 3-pound human’s will for life really is! She is already breathing on her own, without even the need for supplemental oxygen. She is taking full volume feeds through an NG tube, without the need for parenteral nutrition. They have already turned off the blue lights that were to prevent jaundice, and they have turned off the humidity in her isolette…an important step towards moving her out of the “incubator” and into a crib! With all this progress, Felicity seems to not only possess a strong will live, but also to get out of the NICU and begin her life at home as quickly as possible! There are some things, however, that cannot be rushed for a baby born as early as Felicity. She is still looking at several more weeks in the hospital, at a minimum. Depending on how she continues to progress, the family has been told she could be there until sometime near her original due date, August 25. While Felicity is in the NICU, Nathaniel, Lizi and their 3 older girls have a room at the Ronald McDonald house in Colorado Springs. With the help of family from California and Montrose, both Nathaniel and Lizi have been able to spend most of their time at Felicity’s side in the hospital, without having to be completely separated from their other children. Thanks to the amazing accommodations made by the hospital, her older sisters are all allowed to visit Felicity daily. After 2 weeks off work, however, Nathaniel will now be travelling the 230 miles back and forth between Colorado Springs and Montrose so that he can return to work part time and still spend as much time as possible with his family. Despite how well Felicity is doing, the NICU is not an easy way to start off life. Watching your child go through it would take a toll on any parent. Nathaniel and Elizabeth have taken on each new challenge through this process with such grace and strength that it’s easy to forget that they are going through the most difficult time in their lives. Such fortitude can only be attributed to their strong faith in God, who has carried them this far. Please keep this beautiful baby and her family in your prayers. If you feel led, any assistance that you can provide would be greatly appreciated by a beautiful family of six that could really use a helping hand at this point in their lives. Thank you! Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22
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