NICU Miracle Baby Receives Athletic Scholarship 18 Years Later

If Jacquie Baumgardner hadn’t given birth in a hospital with a neonatal intensive care unit 18 years ago, her daughter Lily likely would not have survived. Not only did she survive, she’s thriving and is now an accomplished competitive swimmer.

Lily’s mom, Jacquie, had a healthy pregnancy until she began feeling unwell after she was past her due date. She went to Franciscan Health’s Lafayette hospital to be sure everything was fine.

“They did a check and when her hand came out, it was black, elbow to fingertip,” Baumgardner said.

Lily had her first bowel movement, called meconium, in the womb. Medical staff rushed Jacquie to the operating room for an emergency Cesarean section. Lily was taken directly to the NICU after birth with stool in her lungs, where Rosario Chua, MD, neonatal specialist and medical director at Franciscan Health Lafayette East NICU, managed her care. She was blue, on a ventilator with 100% oxygen and her breathing was labored.

“A full-term baby with respiratory distress, especially that size, with minimal response to maximal oxygen is a scary situation,” Dr. Chua said.

The family was told, if it was within their religious beliefs, that they may want to consider having Lily baptized and wheeled Jacquie in to see her, in case the baby didn’t survive.

Defying The Odds

Lily was expected to have breathing problems her entire life, but she’s defied the odds. She not only made it to state swimming finals during her senior year of high school, but she also received an athletic scholarship to the University of Indianapolis.

“They told my whole family I wasn’t going to make it through the night, but now they get to watch me swim in college,” Lily said.

The teen said she is thankful for Dr. Chua.

“She saved my life and I don’t know what greater thing someone can do for someone else,” she said. “She’s amazing. People are lucky to have her as a doctor.”

Seeing Lily healthy and strong after a brief reunion in July 2023 made Dr. Chua emotional.

“It was a gradual metamorphosis that took 18 years but felt like a sudden ray of glory in the purpose of my own life’s work,” Dr. Chua said.

Lily’s Mom said she is thankful she delivered at a hospital with a NICU and would encourage any expectant parent to do the same.

“Thank God the NICU was around,” Jacquie said. “You never know.”