Preemie is punching above his weight

By Maureen Gilmer, Riley Children’s Health senior writer, mgilmer1@iuhealth.org

In this corner is Favour Pheal, 14-month-old son of Keilah Pheal and grandson of Darlene Pheal.

He was a lightweight at birth – just 1 pound and change – but now he’s punching above his weight at 21 pounds, no longer on the ropes after a long hospitalization.

Favour, who was born at 25 weeks and 6 days’ gestation in northern Indiana, was surrounded by his favorite people Friday at Riley Hospital for Children – his mom, grandma, nurses and respiratory therapists – as they assisted in getting him into his fighting stance for photos.

Wearing a gold, satin robe with his name stitched across the front and tiny boxing gloves attached to the sleeves, Favour was loving all the attention he was getting from his hype crew in the PICU.

“He’s such a sweet little guy,” one nurse said. “Such a beautiful smile.”

PICU nurse Sara Munsie, who has been one of Favour’s primary caregivers for the past several months, said that even with a trach, “he loves to talk to us every day. He’s found his voice.”

As if on cue, he gives a short cry when he is being carefully moved back to his bed, where he can continue to spar with his nurses.

Munsie and her colleagues, including occupational therapist Elizabeth Nguyen, nurses Anne Marie Tuft and Haley Slosman, and respiratory therapist Ellie Shank, won’t have a ringside seat to his daily shenanigans any longer because Favour was finally discharged home Monday for the first time in his life.

“I’m happy for him but sad to see him go,” Munsie said. “He’s the smiliest little guy.”

But don’t let the smile fool you. He’s tough, says his mom.

“My son is a strong baby. To me, he’s a fighter. He has had to fight to be alive.”

Favour was in a hurry to join this world, Keilah said, noting that she went into labor three times, starting when she was just 20 weeks’ pregnant with him, but doctors were able to maintain her pregnancy until she was 25 weeks along when his heartrate dropped. An emergency C-section followed, and her little miracle boy was born.

He remained in a hospital in Valparaiso for a short time, before being transferred to Riley’s NICU, then the PICU. He has bronchial pulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a serious respiratory condition that frequently affects preemies. He is on a ventilator and has a G-tube, but his mom prays that one day he will be free of the vent, and he is already comfortable taking a bottle and is learning to drink from a sippy cup.

A deeply spiritual woman, Keilah said prayer has gotten her through these long months in the hospital. Her own mother has also been her lifeline.

“We named him Favour because God gave me the grace to have him. And his middle name is Jadon (a biblical figure in the Old Testament), which means God has heard,” she said.

“With every prayer, God has heard,” Darlene Pheal agreed. “And he has answered. Favour has overcome every obstacle.”

The two women, who have spent nearly every day at the hospital, took their prize fighter home Monday with some trepidation but also faith that all would be well.

“I’m scared. I don’t want to fail my son,” Keilah said. “But I’m happy because he gets to see a different world out there.”

And she knows her mom is by her side.

“My mom is my biggest support. Without her, I don’t know if I would have made it this far.”

Favour hasn’t seen the last of Riley, of course. He will return for follow-up visits with specialists in the Riley Outpatient Center, including Riley’s BPD clinic, but by any measure, he’s already a champ.

Photos submitted and by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org