Daniel’s Story

Written by Daniel’s Mom

Hi everyone,

My name is Atinuke Omonijo and I am a proud NICU Mom of my adorable son Daniel who made his grand entrance into the world at just 23 weeks and two days. I remember just like yesterday when I took the pregnancy test in May 2024 and oh, what joy I felt when it was positive, I went to the hospital and found out I was carrying twins and was referred to a high risk OB, I felt a joy I couldn’t explain at this point.

Sooner than later, my joy met with so much pain as each week was characterized with so much to bear from having multiple fibroids to severe hyperemesis gravidum, subchorionic hematoma, polyhydramnios. I went for my 18 weeks’ checkup at my OB’s in August and was informed that my cervix was short and I needed to do a cerclage immediately which I did and was put on total bed rest. At 22 weeks I was referred to Mount Sinai Hospital where I stayed for 8 days after which I had my children Daniel and Esther on 25th September, 2024. Daniel was within normal limit but Esther was presented with a collapsed stomach.

I remember just like yesterday when the SickKids team came to meet us at MSH informing us that they would not be able to help Esther because she had a congenital heart disease and esophageal atresia coupled with her extremely low birth weight and the best option was comfort care.

On 27th of September 2024, my husband and I watched Esther pass and at this point we felt a pain beyond comprehension but we had to keep going because of Daniel.

DANIEL’S JOURNEY

Daniel was at MSH for two weeks and according to his physicians he was doing “fantastic’ up until the 10th of October where he was transferred to SickKids for Meconium ileus. Daniel had his laparotomy, ileostomy and bowel resection surgery at 26 weeks GA. Unfortunately, the surgery was met with complications and instead of Daniel to get better after the surgery he got worse and was in dire pain for six whole weeks and was managed on merepenem, morphine and fluconazole. He had blood and platelet transfusions every day for six weeks because of thrombocytopenia, hypertension, multiple infections, on the course of the journey.

Daniel got several PICC lines, IJ line, PIV’s and was the very sick baby of the NICU. I attended every medical ward round and was always told “Mum, Daniel is not getting better, thankfully, he’s not getting worse, keep praying he turns around the corner.”

I prayed every single moment for Daniel, going home without Daniel was not an option, all I had that kept me going was faith, hope, strength that was frail and love for Daniel.

Fortunately, Daniel turned around the corner in mid-November and it kept getting better from there, he came off respiratory support in December 2024 and came home on 14th of February 2025t o the snuggles of his parents without respiratory support or feeding tubes and we have not known a better yesterday since then.

WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR NICU PARENTS

Dear NiCU parents,

1. Tough times, don’t last, tough people do. If we can, then you can, it will become a testimony, hang in there.

2. There is hope in the darkest places, even in the NICU

3. Focus on things you can control such as spending quality time with your baby, read, sing and talk to. Trust me, It gets better.

4. To the Mums, always remember, it is not your fault your baby is in that condition.

Thank you for the assistance over the past few months, the foundation will forever be part of our testimony.