After spending 257 days in the neonatal intensive care unit at HCA Florida Brandon Hospital, a micropreemie born at 22 weeks has been discharged and sent home.
John Delancey III was born on June 6, 2025, weighing 1 pound and 0.2 ounces. Hospital staff described his eight month stay as a collaborative effort involving nurses, physicians, and therapists who supported his growth and medical needs throughout his treatment. By the time of discharge, he had grown to more than 17 pounds.
Dr. Kiran Dwarakanath, the hospital’s NICU medical director, said the case reflects the teamwork required to care for extremely premature infants and highlighted the milestone as a significant achievement for both the family and the care team. The hospital marked the occasion with a NICU graduation celebration before the child returned home.
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