When complications arise in a pregnancy, things move fast. Denise Labbe learned this first-hand. At 26 weeks she had a feeling her water was leaking. She had planned on having her baby at another area hospital but when she learned her baby would have to be air-lifted to Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach after birth; Denise decided to deliver there too.

Denise spent nine days in the hospital before her daughter was born. When she began cramping, her nurse told her she was about to deliver her baby. Nervous, Denise asked her nurse to stay after her shift, which she did.

At 28 weeks Ellen Labbe was born. Ellen weighed 1 lb, 12 oz. and was so tiny her whole body fit in the palm of her father’s hand. Her organs were not fully functional; she required oxygen to help her breathe and there were concerns about neurodevelopment complications, risk of bleeding in the brain and difficulties getting her to tolerate feedings. The Labbe family knew their daughter’s struggle to survive would be difficult but they found comfort in the highest level of care at Miller Children’s.

Ellen spent more than two months in the NICU. At first she was too small to take out of the incubator but her parents were encouraged to make contact with her. When Denise wasn’t there, her primary nurse, Ellen Davalos, gave Ellen extraordinary care. Nurse Davalos carried Ellen around with her everywhere ensuring she received the vital human touch that is so important for preemies.

“We were so impressed with not only the care she [Ellen] received, but how well we were all treated,” says Denise. “When you cannot bring your baby home, the care team becomes everything to you and is an extended family.”

With decorated incubators, and constant pictures being taken, Denise felt the care of the NICU care team and knew how much went into the health and survival of these precious infants.

Today, Ellen is 5’10” and it’s hard to believe she was once so tiny. Ellen is grateful for the exceptional care she received in the NICU at Miller Children’s. “I want to tell NICU parents ‘look at me, I’m fine,’” says Ellen. “It is good to always look on the bright side and I want to make a ‘Book of Hope’ for future moms in the NICU.”