Lee and Rachel Woollen of Holdrege, Neb., are looking forward to a day when they might return home as a family of six. They know there may be months of waiting before that day.
Their four babies were born Feb. 11 just after 2 p.m. At just 23 weeks, the three boys and one girl were born 17 weeks premature.
Brett Alex, Kaden Dean, Parker Lea and Cooper Gene all weighed one and a half pounds or less at birth. All four are in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at UNMC’s hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center. The babies were all named for family members on both sides of the family.
“We know they’re doing as well as we can expect this early. We’re optimistic,” said Lee Woollen, the babies’ father.
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“They’re doing better than expected,” said Ann Anderson-Berry, M.D., an associate professor of pediatrics at UNMC and a neonatologist at The Nebraska Medical Center. “They’re off to a great start and we’re doing everything we can for their survival but their condition is extremely critical.”
There are tremendous health risks for babies born as early as the Woollens, Dr. Anderson-Berry said. Infection and bowel disease are common threats for such children, she said.
The babies may be in NICU for another three to four months.