Brooke's Neurosurgery Story

Weighing Less Than One Pound at Birth, Baby Brooke Meets Most of her Developmental Milestones

On September 12, 2107, Baby Brooke entered the world at just 23 weeks gestation weighing 14 ounces.

According to her mom Krishaun, Brooke was so critical, she was transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan.

“It was one of the scariest times of our lives. I remember my husband Billy and I being on edge and so worried that our daughter wasn’t going to live,” says Krishaun.

She says the NICU including the nurses were very informative and worked well with doctors to stabilize Brooke.

Brooke endured several procedures including laser eye surgery,surgery to treat excess fluid in the brain and treatment for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), a heart problem, common among premature infants, that can put strain on the heart due to abnormal blood flow between two of the major arteries connected to the heart by a blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus.

Steven Ham, DO, chief of Neurosurgery at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan says a team effort was key in Brooke’s outcome.

“Brooke is an excellent example of the outcome of what seems to be an impossible situation when everyone works towards a common goal of overcoming the obstacles.  These conditions are a challenge to all involved, but can be resolved with determination and teamwork.  The team includes a loving family and supporting healthcare providers.  It is a privilege to be part of Brooke’s family and life,” he says.

Krishaun is happy to report that despite Brooke’s life threatening conditions due to her premature birth, her baby girl has been home since February 5, 2018 and is progressing more than what was expected.

“She is on target with most of her developmental milestones. She is active and full of personality. Brooke struggles with some motor skills and receives occupational and physical therapy to help but having Brooke home and seeing how much she has grown, is breathtaking to my husband and me. We look forward to seeing her smiling face every morning,” she says.

Brooke, who is the only daughter of a combined family of three boys enjoys being around her family, playing with her brother’s Ramari, Skylar and Hunter and  loves to have deep conversation in her baby language with her dad but prefers to cuddle and get pretty with mommy.

“Hope, prayer and support from family, friends and the staff at Children’s Hospital of Michigan is what kept us confident that she would one day come home. We want to give special thanks to the NICU nurses, Dr. Steven Ham and the Neurosurgery team for developing the best treatment for Brooke. Their medical knowledge and experience with treating premature children like Brooke assured us that she was receiving the best care,” says Krishaun.

Krishaun and Billy, who received a beautiful hand knitted blanket for Brooke from the March of Dimes along with helpful information about their organization, have been selected as an ambassador family to help raise awareness of the 2019 March for Babies event held Saturday, June 8, 2019 at DMC Brush Mall.  The event raises funds to help families such as theirs get the best care and resources. The event this year is chaired by Children’s Hospital of Michigan Chief Nursing Officer Shawn Levitt.