How You’ve Helped the summer to help her prepare to study and pursue a career in nursing after graduating from high school in May 2019. Despite Allie’s incredibly scary start and a series of developmental delays, she now drives a car and has a 3.8 GPA. Over the years, every time a small developmental delay would arise, Allie, her parents and her doctors proactively addressed it. Allie beat many odds. “We’ve overcome a ton of issues,” her mom proudly says. Recently, the Commercial Appeal reported on a new medical study showing that by intensifying the care given to very-lowbirth-weight babies (less than three pounds three ounces) and their moms, Regional One has significantly contributed to the decline in Shelby County’s infant mortality rate. Very-low-birthweight babies account for twothirds of infant deaths. Regional One Health Foundation supporters who support the Newborn Center help provide advanced medical training and specialized equipment that help keep alive our frailest and most-vulnerable community members—tiny babies born too soon and born under severe duress. Though now legally blind, Caleb has earned 26 merit badges with his Boy Scout troop. The one he’s most proud of is the badge earned for co-piloting an airplane. He became an Eagle Scout at age 17 and is also involved in the high school’s Jr. ROTC program. Diana feels eternally grateful for the life-saving care her babies received at Regional One’s NICU. “I can sing praises of everyone on the NICU team,” she offers. “They all knew what they were doing. I would spend eight to 10 hours in the NICU every day. By being at the bedside that much I saw firsthand how they respond to crises day after day.” She has special praise for Jean Brooks, a NICU nurse with 50 years of experience at Regional One Health. Diana developed a bond with Jean that has only strengthened over the past 18 years. Jean sends Christmas and birthday presents every year to the triplets. “It’s pretty significant what she does,” Diana says. “I told one of my friends about her, and my friend thinks she’s possibly an angel in disguise.” Did You Know? More than 1,300 premature or critically ill newborns are treated in the Sheldon B. Korones Newborn Center each year. Since opening in 1968, more than 45,000 premature babies have been treated successfully, some weighing just one pound. 21 REGIONAL ONE HEALTH FOUNDATION
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