{"id":211810,"date":"2026-03-09T17:04:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T17:04:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/211810\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T17:04:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T17:04:11","slug":"nine-months-eighteen-surgeries-one-incredible-homecoming-for-baby-sunny-at-miller-childrens-womens-hospital-brand-stories-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/211810\/","title":{"rendered":"Nine months. Eighteen surgeries. One incredible homecoming for baby Sunny at Miller Children\u2019s & Women\u2019s Hospital \u2022 Brand stories"},"content":{"rendered":"

Steven and Victoria Mendoza were thrilled to be expecting their first child. For the first several weeks, their pregnancy was marked with morning sickness and routine checkups. But everything changed at their 20-week anatomy scan.<\/p>\n

At the scan, they received devastating news: their baby boy had gastroschisis<\/a>, a rare birth defect in which the intestines develop outside the body due to a hole in the abdominal wall. Alongside her son\u2019s diagnosis, Victoria was also diagnosed with preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy complication marked by high blood pressure.<\/p>\n

Specialized Support Begins<\/p>\n

Victoria was immediately referred to the specialized care team through the High-Risk Pregnancy Program<\/a>at the Cherese Mari Laulhere BirthCare Center<\/a> at Miller Children\u2019s & Women\u2019s Hospital<\/a>, where her pregnancy would be closely monitored by maternal-fetal medicine specialists<\/a>\u2014obstetricians who complete three extra years of training to care for high-risk pregnancies.<\/p>\n

After Victoria and her son\u2019s diagnosis, Victoria and Steven met with Annie Pettey, a fetal care coordinator from the Perinatal Connections Program<\/a> at Miller Children\u2019s & Women\u2019s. The program supports families whose babies are diagnosed with medical conditions that require specialized care before, during and after birth. Whether the condition is relatively simple or highly complex, the care team provides personalized support tailored to each baby\u2019s needs and each family\u2019s situation.<\/p>\n

Building a Care Plan and Emotional Support<\/p>\n

The team includes the mother, her obstetrician, pediatric specialists, and other health professionals who work together to create a detailed care plan. Their goal is to ensure every baby receives the right care from day one\u2014and that parents feel informed and supported throughout the process.<\/p>\n

Annie helped organize Victoria\u2019s care and guided the couple through the many decisions ahead, offering reassurance and clarity during an overwhelming time.<\/p>\n

Victoria and Steven also met with a psychologist at Miller Children\u2019s & Women\u2019s, who offered a safe space to share their hopes and fears and provided tools to help them navigate the emotional challenges of their son\u2019s diagnosis. The support helped them feel heard, understood, and more equipped to face the journey ahead.<\/p>\n

A Sudden Turn and Emergency Delivery<\/p>\n

As Victoria\u2019s pregnancy progressed, new concerns emerged. Sunny\u2019s abdomen measured larger than expected, and an irregular heartbeat was detected. At 31 weeks, her care team admitted her to the Perinatal Special Care Unit (PSCU)<\/a> at the Cherese Mari Laulhere BirthCare Center\u2014a calm, private space equipped with advanced monitoring technology for mothers with high-risk pregnancies. What sets this unit apart is its direct integration with Miller Children\u2019s & Women\u2019s in-house maternal-fetal medicine specialists, pediatric subspecialists, and immediate access to a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)<\/a>, the highest designation available by the American Academy of pediatrics and is equipped to care for the most critically ill and premature newborns in the region, which was just down the hall from mom, and pediatric surgical teams. This proximity allows for rapid clinical decision-making and seamless coordination across departments, ensuring that both mother and baby receive the highest level of care without delay. Just one week later, at 32 weeks, Victoria\u2019s blood pressure spiked, and her water broke. She was rushed in for an emergency cesarean section.<\/p>\n

Sunny\u2019s Fragile First Moments<\/p>\n

Steven, who had just finished his shift at work, raced to Miller Children\u2019s & Women\u2019s Hospital and arrived just in time to prepare for the operating room. During the cesarean section, Victoria remembers the steady, comforting presence of the nurses.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just remember squeezing their hands,\u201d says Victoria. \u201cThey kept checking in on me. I was so scared, but they helped me through it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sunny was born on Nov. 14, 2024, at exactly 32 weeks gestation. He didn\u2019t cry. He wasn\u2019t breathing. He was immediately transferred to the NICU for resuscitation and intensive care and support. Because of his prematurity and medical complexity, Sunny was admitted into the Small Baby Unit<\/a>\u2014a specialized section of Miller Children\u2019s & Women\u2019s NICU designed specifically for the tiniest and most vulnerable infants. This unit provides highly individualized care with advanced monitoring, neuroprotective strategies, and a developmentally supportive environment.<\/p>\n

While Sunny was taken to the NICU, Victoria, still recovering, received more tough news\u2014she had tested positive for rhinovirus. Because of Sunny\u2019s fragile condition, she wouldn\u2019t be allowed to see him for an entire week.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat week was incredibly difficult,\u201d says Victoria. \u201cNot being able to hold him or be by his side was heartbreaking. I focused on pumping and Steven brought milk to the NICU every day\u2014it was our way of staying connected. Even though it felt overwhelming at times, I held onto the hope that I\u2019d be with him soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Team of Experts Steps In \u2013 the Value of Delivering at a Hospital for Children & Women<\/p>\n

When Victoria was finally able to visit Sunny, she found him surrounded by a dedicated team of compassionate and highly skilled specialists. In those critical first days, Sunny\u2019s immediate stabilization and daily care were managed by the expert physicians and nurses of the NICU, who ensured he received the highest level of attention during his most vulnerable moments. At the same time, Peggy Chen, M.D.<\/a>, director, NICU surgical program, took charge of Sunny\u2019s post-operative management from the outset, guiding his complex recovery with seamless continuity. As Sunny\u2019s primary neonatologist and lead NICU physician, Dr. Chen provided steadfast dedication and expertise, supporting Sunny and his family through each step of his hospitalization.<\/p>\n

Dean Anselmo, M.D.<\/a>, a pediatric general surgeon, led the complex surgical journey required to treat Sunny\u2019s gastroschisis\u2014a condition where the intestines develop outside the body. From the start, his case was among the most severe the team had encountered. Sunny\u2019s abdominal wall was underdeveloped, and his intestines required multiple staged repairs to preserve as much bowel function as possible.<\/p>\n

Over the course of his hospitalization at Miller Children\u2019s & Women\u2019s, Sunny underwent 18 complex surgeries. These procedures addressed the severe damage caused by gastroschisis and supported his gastrointestinal system. Surgeons performed multiple bowel resections to remove non-functioning sections of intestine and carried out staged repairs to safely return his intestines to his abdomen. Because his abdominal muscles were underdeveloped and unable to close early on, the team utilized a silo bag to gradually guide the intestines back inside\u2014a delicate process requiring precision and patience. The final milestone was the placement of a specialized mesh closure, reconstructing his abdominal wall and marking the completion of his surgical care. This achievement reflects the depth of expertise and collaboration that defines Miller Children\u2019s approach to treating the most complex neonatal cases.<\/p>\n

\u201cSunny\u2019s case was one of the more complex presentations of gastroschisis we\u2019ve seen,\u201d says Dr. Anselmo. \u201cHis abdominal wall was severely underdeveloped, and his intestines required multiple staged repairs. We worked to preserve as much bowel function as possible while gradually reintegrating the intestines into the abdomen. It was a long journey, but Sunny responded remarkably well to each step.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to surgical care, a multidisciplinary team\u2014including respiratory therapists, developmental specialists, and neonatal and pediatric nurses\u2014supported Sunny\u2019s growth and development, tailoring every aspect of care to his unique challenges. For Victoria, these efforts meant her son was finally ready to thrive at home.<\/p>\n

Therapies That Made a Difference<\/p>\n

While Sunny was in the NICU, he received music therapy<\/a>, physical therapy and oral therapy\u2014key pieces of his healing journey. Music therapist Laurel Terri visited Sunny bedside with a guitar, playing gentle melodies for him and his parents.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt didn\u2019t feel like a hospital when she was there,\u201d says Victoria. \u201cIt brought light into a really dark time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another key part of Sunny\u2019s progress toward discharge was the developmental support he received throughout his hospital stay\u2014especially from speech-language pathologist<\/a> Becky Coti, who began working with him early in the NICU.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecky has been reading to him, helping him smile, teaching us how to interact with him to help his development,\u201d says Victoria. \u201cYou get so caught up in the medical stuff, you forget he\u2019s still a baby who wants to play and learn.\u201d<\/p>\n

Support Beyond Medical Care<\/p>\n

Victoria also worked closely with lactation consultants and child life specialists from the Cherese Mari Laulhere Child Life Program<\/a>\u2014especially Erin, who helped make the hospital feel a little more like home. Erin documented Sunny\u2019s milestones through photos and memory books\u2014precious keepsakes for a family who had to celebrate so many \u201cfirsts\u201d in a hospital room.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was spoiled in the NICU,\u201d says Victoria. \u201cEveryone cared so much\u2014it really shows.\u201d<\/p>\n

From NICU to PICU: Sunny\u2019s Next Chapter<\/p>\n

After months in the NICU, Sunny began his next chapter in the Cherese Mari Laulhere Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)<\/a>\u2014a space designed for healing and family connection. Here, he had his own private room, complete with sleeping accommodation for Steven and Victoria so they could stay close. Around-the-clock care came from board-certified pediatric intensivists, specialized nurses, and respiratory therapists, all working together to monitor every breath and heartbeat.<\/p>\n

The PICU at Miller Children\u2019s & Women\u2019s is one of only eight pediatric critical care centers in Los Angeles County and holds the highest Level I designation by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Beyond advanced technology, the unit offers a child-friendly environment with colorful city-themed d\u00e9cor and open nurse stations that keep families connected. For Sunny\u2019s parents, this wasn\u2019t just a hospital\u2014it was a safe haven where hope grew stronger every day.<\/p>\n

A Bittersweet Goodbye<\/p>\n

After nine months of intensive care, 18 surgeries, and developmental therapies, Sunny was finally strong enough to go home. His discharge day was filled with emotion\u2014not just for his family, but for the care teams who had been by his side since birth. Nurses, therapists, and physicians from both the NICU and PICU gathered to send Sunny off, lining the hallway with smiles, hugs, and even a few tears.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a moment of joy and bittersweet pride,\u201d says Dr. Chen. \u201cWe had watched him fight through so much. Seeing him healthy enough to go home was everything we hoped for\u2014but it\u2019s hard to say goodbye to a baby you\u2019ve cared for like your own.\u201d<\/p>\n

The hallway was filled with applause as Victoria and Steven wheeled Sunny out of the hospital for the first time. Many staff members had become like family, and their farewell was a celebration of Sunny\u2019s strength and the deep bonds formed during his hospitalization.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was hard not having him home,\u201d says Victoria. \u201cBut one thing that helped was knowing he had a family within his care team at Miller Children\u2019s. They loved him like their own. But now, we\u2019re just so grateful he\u2019s finally home.\u201d<\/p>\n

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