2024 Radiothon - The Weems Family

We highlight the Weems family - a Miracle Family who have had two kids at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital with Bentley being born at 24 weeks and Lydia born at 22 weeks. 

The Weems Family told us that " At Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, Lydia and Bentley's care was beyond exceptional. The neonatologists were always very active in her care and, very informative. I can't say enough good things about them. They have specific services that are really amazing. Child life made my other children feel incredibly involved, in her stay there."

You can help support families like the Weems by donating to Radiothon. Visit  https://corewellhealth.org/foundation/west/helen-devos-childrens-hospital/radiothon today.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hi. My name is Alicia Wems. I have two children
that were born at Helen de Vos. My first was
a twenty four weeker. His name is Bentley, and my
fourth was a twenty two weeker. Her name is Lydia.
With Bentley, I had a perfect pregnancy up until the
day I went into labor. I went in, I was

(00:22):
dilated to six and an hour later Bentley was born
at twenty four weeks in three days. He weighed one
pound twelve ounces at birth and spent one hundred days
in the nick U. And then I went on to
have two full term pregnancies, which was a blessing and
miracle in itself. In twenty twenty one, I had Lydia.

(00:46):
I had her at twenty two weeks in five days.
She weighed one pound three ounces and spent one hundred
and twenty six days in the nick qu tiny tots
with the eyes all aglow. Nothing can prepare you for
having a preemie, to go through that with Bentley, you know,
and see how amazing he turned out. We're just so thankful,

(01:10):
and then to experience two full term pregnancies after that.
Never in my mind did I think this is going
to happen again. The fact that it was even earlier
was even harder to wrap my head around. At Helen
Devas Children's Hospital, Lydia and Bentley's care was beyond exceptional.
The neonatologists were always very active in her care and

(01:33):
very informative. I can't say enough good things about them.
They have specific services that are really amazing child life.
Made my other children feel incredibly involved in her stay there.
Although it's been said many times, many ways, Merry Christmas Bentley.

(01:58):
He's thirteen now. To see him be taller than kids
that are born full term, and just to see him
how he is brought hope to me. Going through it
again with lydia, her diagnosis was a little worse than
Bentley's because even those two weeks made a big difference. Bentley,

(02:19):
you know, he didn't have any residual She has some
visual stuff and then her walking has been a challenge,
but she's so feisty and will not stop until she
gets her way basically, so I feel like just watching
her overcome what she's already overcome is huge, and so

(02:40):
I truly believe that she'll go on to live a
normal life. My name is Bentley. Williams. I am thirteen
and I was four to twenty four weeks, so my
hares things to do are playing basketball and I love
being a big brother. Please call one eight hundred the
ninety three Kids. That's one eight hundred B nine three

(03:03):
five four three seven to help kids like Bentley and
Lydia