Expert care in our pediatric ICU helped micro-preemie Athena defy the odds

To say Athena Omoto is a miracle may be an understatement. Born at just 25 weeks weighing approximately 12 ounces, Athena’s journey of resilience brought her from Las Vegas, Nev., to Minnesota where she continues to reach milestones with support from experts at M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s’ Hospital.

Athena’s story began in Las Vegas on June 25, 2022, when she was delivered via emergency cesarean section, four months before her due date. In the hospital, Athena’s mom Jackie remembers the thrill and surprise of everyone in the delivery room when she first heard Athena cry. “Because she was born so early, they expected a lethargic baby. She was so alert. She was fighting,” Jackie said.

Born only 9.5 inches long, Athena was in critical condition at birth and needed medical support to help her breathe while her lungs developed. At the family’s hospital in Las Vegas, Athena underwent numerous surgeries and procedures to address complications associated with her very premature delivery. The family was able to bring Athena home on December 24, 2022 – which was a special Christmas gift after everything they’d been through. While Athena was still using an oxygen assistance device to help her breathe, she was making strides towards breathing on her own.

However, as Athena grew, so did her care needs. “She needed cardiologists to monitor her heart; an ear, nose, and throat specialist; to track her respiratory strength; geneticists; eye specialists; and neurologists for her brain,” said her mom Jackie, who affectionally nicknamed Athena her ‘little stinker.’ When Athena required another lengthy hospital visit due to a mystery illness during the spring of 2022, the family began making plans to leave their home behind in pursuit of the best possible care for their daughter.

M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital is one of the nation’s leading children’s hospitals, and is part of M Health Fairview Pediatrics, one of Minnesota’s largest and most comprehensive children’s health systems. With hope in their hearts, the family decided, “Minnesota was the place.”

All the experts in one place

The family arrived at our children’s hospital when Athena was 12 months old, weighing only 6 lbs. Athena was immediately hospitalized in our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). There, they met Billy Sveen, MD, MA, an M Health Fairview pediatric critical care physician who takes care of kids when they’re at their sickest. Sveen, who is also an assistant professor with the University of Minnesota Medical School, partnered closely with the family to develop a care plan to help Athena not only recover but get stronger.

“One of our first goals with Athena was to get her to a point where we could help her start breathing and feeding so she could grow,” Sveen said. This meant helping Athena become stable enough so surgeons could place a permanent feeding tube and surgical breathing tube through a procedure called a tracheostomy. “Once we got to that point, she started making significant gains.”

With our hospital’s broad range of pediatric specialists, Athena had access to pediatric neurologists, pulmonologists, surgical specialists, ear nose and throat (ENT) doctors, and more all in one single location.

“We got more answers in the first two weeks of being here than we would have gotten anywhere else,” Jackie said. “Being here has been nothing but amazing. The care. The attention. All to help us find a solution. To help Athena.”

“As Athena grows, we are going to be watching for developmental milestones like we would for any other child. Things like supporting her head, sitting up on her own,” Sveen said. “And whenever she gets sick, we will be here to provide support.”

Eventually, Athena left our pediatric ICU, which was a big step for the family. Their next phase of care included seeing specialists in our intermediate care unit who were key in helping Athena prepare for life outside the hospital.

A step closer to home

“In the intermediate care unit, we care for patients who are medically complex or technology dependent,” said Kari Erickson, CNP, a pediatric nurse practitioner, who is a consistent presence for families and children on the unit.. “We really focus on development and growth.”

Part of the work of the intermediate care unit is educating parents and families so they can provide at-home care. With Athena’s permanent feeding tube and ventilator, it is important for the family to know how to properly care for the equipment and what to do in the event of an emergency.

“Let’s say for example, one of Athena’s tubes comes loose when she is at home. It’s important for the family to stay calm during what may feel like a crisis,” said Erickson. “Our unit teaches families what to do in those moments and how to handle emergencies that may come up outside of the hospital.”

Because Athena required so much dedicated care in the early stages of her life, there was lost time among the family to bond with their baby. During her time in the intermediate care unit, Athena’s improvements were more than physical. As she grew stronger, her personality and her smile started to light up the room.

Since coming home on October 17, Athena celebrated turning 17 months. The Omoto family is moving forward with the lightest of hearts, embracing their new home and community in Minnesota and the health care team they’ve formed such an incredible bond with.

“This was always our goal,” Jackie said. “To bring her home.”