Millie's Journey
Millie Galphin was born at just 25-weeks gestation. Her first six months were spent in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Le Bonheur. Millie's 172 day journey included a team of 85 caregivers and proved she is a little fighter. Watch her journey.
Carrie Galphin’s first pregnancy seemed very normal until she went into labor at 25 weeks. Millie arrived April 11, 2014 weighing just 1 pound, 14 ounces. She was rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown.
On day five, things became more serious. At 10 p.m., Millie’s bowels had ruptured. Patrick and Carrie followed the Pedi-Flite ambulance from Germantown to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, where Millie would have surgery.
Millie needed a higher level of care than her birthing hospital could provide. Le Bonheur is the only Level IV NICU in the region and cares for the most ill and premature babies from West Tennessee, North Mississippi and East Arkansas.
At Le Bonheur, surgeons put a drain into Millie’s abdomen to remove fluid. Once she was stable enough for another surgery, part of her diseased intestines was removed from her body. Surgeons left a hole in her abdomen for 12 weeks while she recovered and healed.
Carrie kept a notebook while Millie was in the NICU. She listed the key information from rounds each Morning, including 85 care team members. Beyond the neonatologists, there were nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, speech language pathologists, dietitians and more.
As Millie’s body began to grow and heal, the Galpins looked forward to taking their daughter home. Millie needed to gain weight and breathe with a minimal amount of oxygen. The last two and a half months were focused on feeding issues.
Millie went home on Sept. 29, weighing 7 pounds, 7 ounces. “It was so wonderful and so sad at the same time. We felt like we were leaving friends, but we were so glad to be bringing her home,” Carrie said.
The Galphins say life at home has been wonderful. Millie now weighs 15 pounds, 12 ounces and enjoys tummy time, playing in her jumper and giving her parents big smiles.
Millie’s family visited her care team in the NICU this spring. The staff says it’s very satisfying to see their former patients and reminds them how important their work is to families.
Le Bonheur will be part of Millie’s life for many years. Millie continues to see specialists in three clinics – Newborn Follow Up, G-tube Feeding Clinic and Children’s Intestinal Rehab Clinic (CIRCLe). She also sees a pulmonologist, audiologist and ophthalmologist.
In February, Millie’s parents prepare to walk her back to the operating room for her seventh surgery: to remove a hemangioma (build up of blood vessels) from her chest.
Millie celebrated her first birthday on April 11 – a milestone her parents weren’t sure they’d experience. Mom Carrie says, “Millie is here because of Le Bonheur.”
