After almost 5 months in the NICU, Milwaukee couple brings their baby home.

There are many unknowns and anxieties that come with expecting your first child. However, nothing could have prepared a young Milwaukee couple, Jorge Joachin and Vatsanah Vongpanya for the journey that lay ahead of them when their baby boy made his entrance into the world at only 22 weeks into Vatsanah’s pregnancy.

Premature labor and delivery

Weighing less than one pound, little Malakai was born on January 3rd, 2024 at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital - Milwaukee Campus. “He was just about the size of my hand,” said father Jorge. The baby’s size made him one of the youngest and smallest infants to survive birth at an Ascension hospital. Malakai was immediately admitted to the hospital’s Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and so began the long road ahead for this new family. 

Compassionate Level III NICU care

Malakai was diligently cared for round-the-clock in the NICU, where the neonatal care team at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s doubled as family for Jorge and Vatsanah. “They’re not human - they’re like superheroes,” reflected Jorge. Arguably, Malakai is a superhero in his own right, as his odds-defying growth in the NICU impressed everyone. 

Personalized care every step of the way

After 144 days in the NICU, Jorge and Vatsanah were finally able to take baby Malakai home. As they put their son into his stroller for the first time, the team at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s - Milwaukee Campus led the family out of the unit with fanfare, balloons and celebratory banners to commemorate Malakai’s “NICU graduation,” an occasion that Jorge and Vatsanah had dreamed of for over four and a half months.

Now at home, they are enjoying everyday life as a family. "I never thought I would be here, being able to hold him and bring him home," Vatsanah says. As he looks at his baby boy, Jorge says he sees “a miracle.”

Learn more about the Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s - Milwaukee Campus birthing center and Level III NICU here.