Complex Care for Maggie, Family in the Moments that Count

Weighing only 11.46 ounces, Maggie is the smallest baby born at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital to survive and go home.

“She fit in your hand,” said Amanda, Maggie’s mom. “The only goal the doctors had was that she stay alive long enough for me to see her.”

After five months in the Wasie NICU, Maggie made it home and was eventually joined by younger sister, Katie, also born early at Joe DiMaggio Children’s
Hospital.

“Having a kid in the hospital for months on end is never easy,” said Maggie and Katie’s dad, Troy, “but it’s much, much easier here.”

Maggie, 14, who is non-verbal with developmental challenges including a genetic mutation, receives special attention from Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Center for Complex Care.

“Our job in complex care is to truly be the quarterbacks to navigate the care,” said Amanda Porro, MD, medical director, Clinical Effectiveness and Complex Care. “It’s a team effort with our entire focus on the child and their family,” she added.

As a result of highly personalized care, experienced specialists and collaborative approach, Maggie has grown and improved in ways that may have seemed impossible when she was born.

The experience of being surrounded by so many caring experts and support staff all coordinating their efforts has led Amanda to calling us “Team Maggie.” “We have two miracle children,” Amanda said, “Without this hospital and the doctors and nurses fighting for our girls, we wouldn't have them.”

“We're eternally grateful for everybody at Joe DiMaggio,” said Troy. “We've met so many great doctors and other caretakers there, it's just been a phenomenal experience. They're just irreplaceable.”