A premature baby boy born weighing less than a pound has been discharged from the hospital after nearly a year.
Nathan Zarate was born more than three months premature in November 2023 and sent to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. He spent nearly the entire first year of his life there — 300 days — before finally being sent home with his parents.
His mother, Alicia Zarate, explained that while she was pregnant, she would play the song “Higher” by Creed. “I would play it at home because I used to feel him flutter,” she told CBS News. “… And he would wake up to it, and start fluttering around in my stomach. I don’t know if it was the drums, the guitar, or me, honestly, shamelessly singing to the lyrics.”
One day, she didn’t feel right.
“When I noticed something felt off, I didn’t feel movement as much, I told him, ‘Play the song. If he doesn’t flutter, I’m going to the doctor,'” she said. “And he didn’t flutter, so I went straight to the doctor, and then the next day he was delivered.”
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Alicia had developed pre-eclampsia and baby Nathan’s life was at risk from fetal growth restriction. Both mother and son were in danger and doctors performed an emergency C-section to save them both. Alicia didn’t see her newborn son for days, and premature Nathan had a long road ahead of him.
“First impression was he was very small,” his father, Johnathan, said. “He was born at 14.3 ounces. It’s about the size of a coke can.”
Nathan had surgery to repair a heart defect, overcame pneumonia, and suffered eye damage. He also needed a tracheotomy to help him breathe.
During his time in the NICU, he grew from 14 ounces to 14 pounds and overcame multiple health obstacles. He celebrated his first Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter in the NICU, but will be able to celebrate his first birthday at home.
“He’s really doing great,” neonatologist Dr. Michael Cappello said. “He’s thriving, he smiles, he laughs. We’re all very proud of what we’ve all done, but what he’s done the most.”
Though he will continue to receive respiratory therapy at home, doctors say it will be temporary and Nathan should develop as any other child.
“I never really thought we would see the day to be honest. It was a long journey with a lot of ups and downs for sure,” said Alicia. “But yeah, we made it at last. We’re ready for our new journey at home.”
