NICU Nurse Remains By One-Pound Baby’s Side For Ten Months. Now She’s His Godmother

May 13, 2020 by apost team

Ricki Ann Gandy gave birth to her son Oliver at just 25 weeks pregnant. Oliver, who weighed just about a pound, was looked after by caring and loving doctors and nurses in three hospitals in a span of almost 11 months. One nurse, who stood by Oliver's side and gave him special care and attention, has now become his godmother.

"May 29, 2019 will always be the scariest, but happiest day of our lives," said Ricki Ann Gandy, in an interview with apost. Ricki’s pregnancy took an unexpected turn when she went into labor at just 25 weeks pregnant. She delivered her son, Oliver, at DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He weighed 1 lb., 8 oz. at birth and was 12½ inches long. Describing her micro-preemie baby, Ricki said: "I saw him for the first time seven hours after he was born and I thought to myself wow, he is so small but absolutely beautiful!"

The doctors and nurses told Ricki and her husband Jeremy from day one that this would be a "roller coaster ride". His lungs needed to do some serious development before they would work properly. Oliver’s dad had split his time between the NICU and Ricki’s room as she recovered. Whenever he visited Oliver, Jeremy noticed one particular nurse was always by his baby boy’s side. That nurse was Savannah Galloway.

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Savannah proved to be Oliver’s best buddy for his entire 10 months in the hospital. Savannah was his "'NICU mom' as we would call her," Ricki explained. "The other nurses would tell us, 'Oh, Oliver's girlfriend has been spoiling him tonight' and automatically we knew it was Savannah. She was in his room regardless if she was his nurse that night or not."

Ricki and Jeremy decided to make Savannah and her husband Jake the godparents of Oliver. “There was just something about Oliver, I don’t know what it was exactly,” Savannah expressed. “His story is very unique.”

On April 16, after almost 11 months and three hospitals, Ricki and Jeremy could finally bring Oliver home. "He is forming a personality and is such a happy baby," enthused Ricki. His little smile will brighten anyone's day. He loves to sit up, be in his chair, lay on his playmat, look in a mirror, play with his toys, being outside, watching his dog, but his favorite thing is talking to his mommy and daddy."

Speaking to Little Things, Savannah and Jake shared that they now get to visit Oliver at home, which they do every other day. “We’ll forever and always be a part of his life,” Savannah said, and added:

“We’re blessed that they shared their little miracle with us. Our lives have been changed for the better by that sweet baby and his parents.”

What a beautiful story. It's a sign of hope and strength for all parents of prematurely born children. Pass this along to your friends and family to spread little Oliver's success story.