The moment Kendall Jurnakins and his family have long been waiting for finally arrived on Wednesday, March 16, with the miracle baby leaving Ascension St. Vincent Hospital after spending 460 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Hospital staff joined in the celebration, lining up in the facility's hallway to send the family home. Kendall's mother, Sparkle Jurnakins, was emotional as she departed the hospital that became her home in the past 15 months, saying, "I think I'm very overwhelmed, but I'm happy. I just can't wait to get my baby home with me and my family."
According to Fox59, Sparkle gave birth to miracle baby Kendall prematurely as her COVID-19 diagnosis, and pregnancy-induced hypertension forced her to have an emergency C-section. Sparkle was only less than six months pregnant when baby Kendall was born on December 11, 2020. The tiny baby weighed only 15 ounces at birth, and her size was small enough to fit in the palm of one's hand.
Miracle baby Kendall endures long stay in NICU
Both mother and child were in critical condition after the birth with Sparkle brought to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for her own life-saving care. Doctors immediately took Kendall to the NICU to boost his chance for survival.
Kendall underwent treatment for multiple complications linked to premature birth at the NICU. Kendall's stay there was so long that he celebrated several milestones in the hospital. Not only did he celebrate his first birthday at the NICU, but Kendall also got his first tooth and learned how to crawl during his 460-day stay in the hospital.
Dr. Taha Ben Saad, the NICU medical director at Ascension, was delighted that Kendall was finally given his marching orders, saying, "This moment, actually, I have no words. It's such a reward for all of us. We've waited for this day for a long time, and it's such a reward." Saad told WHTR that it was the best day for all of them after all the long days and long nights.
Kendall sets record for longest stay in Ascencion NICU
They surely spent a long time taking care of miracle baby Kendall with the medical director noting that he is the baby who stayed the longest in their NICU. Adrian Brunson, the NICU PA, was ecstatic with the news of Kendall's release, saying he had grown into the young little toddler.
Saad paid tribute to the team who took care of baby Kendall, saying that the doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners or physician assistants, respiratory therapists, all other therapists, dietitians, and the housekeeping unit all played a part in this joyous moment.
Doctors are optimistic that Kendall's trach and feeding tube will be taken out in the next few years, a positive outcome for the preemie baby. Sparkle is very proud of Kendall's resilience, telling WRTV, "Everything he went through from being sick to surgery, he's fought. So I fight for him. I fought because he fights. He made us all strong."
