Celebrating Ace Bucket Days
On August 2-4th Ace Hardware and their customers stepped up to help University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital during their annual Bucket Days campaign. For a $5 donation, customers received a five-gallon bucket that they were then able to fill up with their purchases and receive a discount at check out. That $5 donation in turn helps unlock a world of possibilities in the form of support for the highest needs of the hospital and the kiddo’s treated there, including CMN Ambassador, Ray.
Ray was born prematurely on Nov. 22, 2019, due to complications of preeclampsia. At just 28 weeks and five days old, his two-pound, three-ounce body came into the world with tiny cries; a welcome sound to his family’s ears. After a quick welcome to the world by his family, Ray was rolled off to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
While Ray made progress breathing on his own—transitioning from a ventilator to NAVA—his nurse picked up on changes in his temperament. She recognized signs of discomfort and distress and initiated blood tests to check for an infection. Ray had sepsis and MRSA bacteria in his bloodstream, and his nurse’s keen eye for her tiny patient gave him a chance to beat the infection. A few days into the infection, abscesses started to appear on his left ankle and right hand, as well as swelling on his left index finger. Infectious disease and orthopedics teams helped drain and clean these joints, giving his body a better chance of clearing the bacteria. After eight days of blood cultures coming back positive, Ray finally received a negative test and could begin a heavy dose of antibiotics for the next seven weeks.
Over the next few weeks, Ray improved—weaning off pain medications and continued to heal and grow. After moving to a bigger room—which provided incredible views, sunshine, and privacy—Ray checked off his final milestones at Iowa: finishing his antibiotics, completing feeding phases, and passing the car seat test. After 76 days in the NICU, Ray went home!
Ray’s family is forever grateful to the NICU staff and University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital and today Ray is a happy and healthy kiddo who had a great time visiting his local Ace Hardware during Bucket Days!
