A Louisiana family is celebrating this February after their 7-month-old was discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit for the first time. Baby Brooks Joseph got to go home Feb. The doctors, nurses and staff at Woman's Hospital gave Brooks a fond farewell parade, complete with cheers and pom-poms. Micro-preemie baby goes home after spending first 6 months of life in hospital.
Amber Turbeville unexpectedly gave birth to her son Brooks at their Denham Springs home last summer, and dad Dustin Turbeville helped deliver him. After first responders arrived, they rushed the family in two separate ambulances to Ochsner Medical Center, also in Baton Rouge, where Amber Turbeville also delivered Brooks' fraternal twin brother Beckett Lee via emergency caesarean section.
Because Amber Turbeville had complications during the pregnancy and developed an infection, doctors told the family Beckett stopped developing at 16 weeks and that he wouldn't be able to live after he was born. Since then, the Turbevilles have focused on supporting Brooks, who was transferred to Woman's Hospital after his birth, and taking his health journey day by day. We always say that when we grow up, we want to be like Brooksie," he added.
The first-time father said they had to "do everything on Brooks' time" but slowly, Brooks made progress, and his parents said he didn't just survive but is now thriving too. Brooks has since gone from his birth weight of 1 pound, 7. He's recovered very beautifully from all of his surgeries. He is tolerating his feeds better than he was [before], so we're getting the hang of that too and just trying to get the hang of home," said Amber Turbeville. As they get settled at home, Amber and Dustin Turbeville said they're excited for their next chapter and also plan on never letting Brooks forget about his twin brother.
The first-time parents said their message to other NICU parents is to never lose hope. Let the light at the end of the tunnel find you," Dustin Turbeville said. And it's on their time. Open menu. Book Club. Privacy Policy. Children's Online Privacy Policy. Interest-Based Ads. Terms of Use. Do Not Sell My Info. Contact Us. Baby born at 1lb 7. By Yi-Jin Yu. February 12, , PM.
