Alexis Pearson

Tears of joy erupted for Alexis Pearson when she read the at-home pregnancy test. After eight rounds of in vitro fertilization (IVF), her dream of giving her daughter a sibling was coming true.

The pregnancy went smoothly at first, but at week 24, Alexis began spotting.

“I was slightly worried and decided to drink fluids and rest … but then I went to the bathroom and had a lot of blood and felt something like a bump. I knew I needed to get to an ER,” Alexis said.

Alexis and her husband Gary rushed to a nearby hospital. Alexis thought this may result in bedrest, but she had no idea her body was preparing for a premature birth.

“The nurse looked and quickly grabbed the doctor. She had scared eyes, and that’s when I started to get nervous,” Alexis said. “They told me I had an hourglass membrane and that they couldn’t handle that little of a baby, so they needed to transport me to Timpanogos Regional Hospital.”

An hourglass membrane occurs when part of the amniotic sac bulges through the cervical canal – explaining the bump Alexis had felt earlier when going to the bathroom. This condition, which is extremely difficult to manage, poses high risks and requires intense medical attention.

Timpanogos Regional Hospital: Combining advanced medical care with pure compassion

With its advanced technology, highly trained medical professionals and Magnet-certified, Level III newborn intensive care unit (NICU), Timpanogos Regional Hospital can care for patients born as early as 24 weeks. In fact, Alexis said she could feel the high caliber of care upon her hospital arrival.

“It felt like [a TV show]. Doctors met me in the ambulance and wheeled me in,” Alexis said. “I went into labor on a Sunday, and they were able to keep me pregnant until Friday – which helped me get to 25 weeks gestation, and I believe helped my baby survive.”

During her five days in the Labor and Delivery department, Alexis remained on strict bedrest, gained important education about premature births, received medication to help her baby’s development, and even had a gender reveal party.

“One day, I was down in the dumps and stressed, and one of my nurses asked if I wanted to find out what I was having since I wouldn’t have that beautiful moment where they lay my baby on my chest and say, ‘It’s a boy!’ … So my nurses threw me a gender reveal party! They gave us a blue blanket and onesie wrapped in one of those pads you lay on … The head of dietary even made us a cake and wrote us a personal note that said he had a 26-week-old baby born and his daughter was now a thriving 5-year-old. That was so comforting! Before that, I didn’t know anyone had a baby this early. To hear his first-hand experience and for him to make us a cake was super sweet.”

A Level III NICU: Treating the littlest patients with exceptional care

At just 25 weeks and two days gestation, Alexis’ baby boy needed to leave the womb and enter the world.

“The entire cavalry rolled into my room around 4:30 a.m., and even though it was mass chaos and kind of scary, the doctor was so kind. He knelt down at eye level with me and took his time. He told me we were going to the operating room because the whole NICU team could fit in there and it was more sterile, and my job was to help push out our baby quickly,” Alexis remembered. “I have a picture of me being wheeled out of my room at 5:09 a.m. and I had him at 5:17 a.m. It just took one push.”

As her baby boy made his debut, Alexis first caught sight of an itty bitty foot.

“It was tiny – maybe the size of a quarter. I’m not going to lie, I was shocked. Then I saw the rest of him. His eyes were still fused shut but he had eyebrows and all ten fingers. He had hair on his head. Yes, he looked terrifying, but he had all the parts! I was so happy when I saw him!” Alexis said.

Baby Brooks weighed just 1 lb. 13 oz. and measured 12.5 inches long. As a micro-preemie, he needed round-the-clock medical attention and the most advanced technology to survive.

In the NICU, specialized medical team members collaborated to care for Brook’s health. For example, neonatologists coordinated every detail of his complex care, respiratory specialists intubated Brooks and monitored his lung development, nutritionists ensured nutrition absorption through a feeding tube, and nurses were always by his side.

“People would say to me, ‘Was it so hard leaving your baby at the hospital?’ Of course I was sad he didn’t come home, but I didn’t want him home at 25 weeks. I knew I needed them to take care of him, and I trusted them!” Alexis said. “Those nurses – they are there day in and day out, 12-hour shifts. They’re cuddling him, and they’re in the grind and thick of it all. They’re just the sweetest.”

For 97 days, Alexis and Gary went to the NICU to see Brooks. They never missed a day. Slowly and incrementally, Brooks grew stronger – so did their bond with the NICU nurses and doctors. After 97 days, it was time for Alexis and Gary to take Brooks home.

Worth the wait: Hard things happened but miracles did too.

Today, Brooks is a healthy, active and fiery 2.5-year-old redhead who says his big sister is his best friend. He’s usually playing soccer all day or running, and he’s known for his champion spirit.

“He’s feisty, but honestly, I think that’s what got him through the NICU. He’s a fighter!” Alexis said. “I love telling his story. I feel like he’s such a miracle.”

Looking back, Alexis views arriving at Timpanogos Regional Hospital as a critical point in Brooks’ miraculous arrival. She says the hospital is a special place that she’s come to love – a place where many hard things happened, but so did many tender mercies.

“Going to Timp was such a blessing! I’m glad we didn’t go anywhere else. It was close to my house, and we always got the care we needed. It didn’t feel like there were too many babies to handle. It didn’t feel like a huge system or huge production – every baby received special attention. The neonatologists are brilliant, and the nurses are the sweetest!” Alexis said. “Every day was a hurdle, but it was as good as it gets for the situation.”