Central Florida family celebrates first Christmas at home with son after 11 months in the NICU

Home for the holiday is extra special this year for an Orange County family after their son spent his first Christmas last year in the hospital during his 11 months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).”Him being in the hospital for so long and then finally coming home, it’s like a little dream come true,” the boy’s mother, Nisa Pennyfeather, said. Nathaniel Wright was all smiles while his parents sat down with WESH 2 for an interview on Christmas afternoon. “All the gifts are great, but honestly, the best gift was just having him here, having him at home,” his father, Myles Wright, said. Nathaniel still needs oxygen tubes to help him breathe.”He’s growing wonderfully,” Pennyfeather said. “Every doctor that meets him is surprised he’s a preemie because he’s so big. He’s a whopping 19 pounds now, which is so different from when he was born.”Nathaniel weighed only one pound and three ounces when he was born on Nov. 11, 2024. It was almost four months before his mother’s due date. “He had a rough start,” Wright said. “Nothing gets this kid down.”Nathaniel’s parents recalled visiting their son one year ago in the hospital on Christmas.”We went first thing in the morning,” Pennyfeather said. “We did skin-to-skin with him, and just like holding him and just sitting there. He was sleeping for most of it.”Pennyfeather and her stepdad made tiny foam Christmas sweaters for Nathaniel that now hang as ornaments on their tree.”This is actually almost as big as he was at that moment in time because he was only a month old,” Wright said, holding up the tiny foam sweaters. Pennyfeather and Wright said they are forever grateful for the doctors and nurses who took care of their son during his 11 months in the NICU.”Honestly, thank you so much,” Pennyfeather said. “They were an absolute blessing for us. They became really like a family for us. We have so many photos of them with him.”Since Nathaniel left Orlando Health’s Winnie Palmer Hospital on Oct. 6, he’s already had breakfast with the characters from Winnie-the-Pooh.”Some kids are really scared of characters,” Pennyfeather said. “He wasn’t. He was playing with every single one of them, and it was great. We had them sign his diaper bag. He took pictures with everybody. He had a great day.”Nathaniel has visited all four of the Disney theme parks, and he posed for pictures for the first time in Santa Claus’ lap.”Both of us came from really strong family traditions when it comes around Christmas,” Wright said. “So, having my family now together, carrying on that tradition that was set by our parents, is honestly the biggest blessing that we both could ask for.”Nathaniel’s parents are extending their prayers for families who are in the same situation they experienced last Christmas.”Seeing Nathaniel’s story and just knowing that there is hope and that one day it will end, they will come home,” Wright said, “they’re going to be one of the happiest parts of your life.”Next Christmas, Nathaniel’s parents said they’re hopeful he’ll be able to get on an airplane to visit his mom’s family in New Jersey.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. —

Home for the holiday is extra special this year for an Orange County family after their son spent his first Christmas last year in the hospital during his 11 months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

“Him being in the hospital for so long and then finally coming home, it’s like a little dream come true,” the boy’s mother, Nisa Pennyfeather, said.

Nathaniel Wright was all smiles while his parents sat down with WESH 2 for an interview on Christmas afternoon.

“All the gifts are great, but honestly, the best gift was just having him here, having him at home,” his father, Myles Wright, said.

Nathaniel still needs oxygen tubes to help him breathe.

“He’s growing wonderfully,” Pennyfeather said. “Every doctor that meets him is surprised he’s a preemie because he’s so big. He’s a whopping 19 pounds now, which is so different from when he was born.”

Nathaniel weighed only one pound and three ounces when he was born on Nov. 11, 2024. It was almost four months before his mother’s due date.

“He had a rough start,” Wright said. “Nothing gets this kid down.”

Nathaniel’s parents recalled visiting their son one year ago in the hospital on Christmas.

“We went first thing in the morning,” Pennyfeather said. “We did skin-to-skin with him, and just like holding him and just sitting there. He was sleeping for most of it.”

Pennyfeather and her stepdad made tiny foam Christmas sweaters for Nathaniel that now hang as ornaments on their tree.

“This is actually almost as big as he was at that moment in time because he was only a month old,” Wright said, holding up the tiny foam sweaters.

Pennyfeather and Wright said they are forever grateful for the doctors and nurses who took care of their son during his 11 months in the NICU.

“Honestly, thank you so much,” Pennyfeather said. “They were an absolute blessing for us. They became really like a family for us. We have so many photos of them with him.”

Since Nathaniel left Orlando Health’s Winnie Palmer Hospital on Oct. 6, he’s already had breakfast with the characters from Winnie-the-Pooh.

“Some kids are really scared of characters,” Pennyfeather said. “He wasn’t. He was playing with every single one of them, and it was great. We had them sign his diaper bag. He took pictures with everybody. He had a great day.”

Nathaniel has visited all four of the Disney theme parks, and he posed for pictures for the first time in Santa Claus’ lap.

“Both of us came from really strong family traditions when it comes around Christmas,” Wright said. “So, having my family now together, carrying on that tradition that was set by our parents, is honestly the biggest blessing that we both could ask for.”

Nathaniel’s parents are extending their prayers for families who are in the same situation they experienced last Christmas.

“Seeing Nathaniel’s story and just knowing that there is hope and that one day it will end, they will come home,” Wright said, “they’re going to be one of the happiest parts of your life.”

Next Christmas, Nathaniel’s parents said they’re hopeful he’ll be able to get on an airplane to visit his mom’s family in New Jersey.