When Lillie’s mom was pregnant, she had a rare condition that caused frequent trips to the ER, and she was told that her daughter may not survive the pregnancy. Defying the odds, Lillie was born at 25 weeks at Maimonides Children’s Hospital, but that was just the start of her journey. Since Lillie was born prematurely, she spent her first few months of life in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). She had serious chronic lung disease and received a tracheostomy in her neck to provide positive oxygen and pressure. As her breathing gradually improved, a pediatric pulmonologist stepped in to help prepare Lillie to go home. This specialized doctor worked with Lillie to help her learn to eat and breathe independently, eventually taking her off an oxygen tank. While these first few months of Lillie’s life were some of the scariest, her mother felt loved and supported by the hospital staff through it all. Because of the life-saving care she received, Lillie is now an independent and active ten-year-old! She’s in elementary school and is running, playing, and thriving!