Long Island family brings home baby from NICU just in time for holidays
When Eva was born, they learned she had Stickler Syndrome with Pierre-Robin Sequence, a genetic condition that causes jaw deformities, a cleft palate and tongue obstruction.
More Stories
After months of treatment and a flight across the world, a Long Island family is able to take their baby home just in time for the holidays.
Phil Dauernheim, a Long Island native, and his wife, Karli, just recently grew their family to a family of four.
Their daughter's name is Eva and she's 4 months old.
She was born in Cyprus, where her family had been living for over two years.
When Eva was born, they learned she had Stickler Syndrome with Pierre-Robin Sequence, a genetic condition that causes jaw deformities, a cleft palate and tongue obstruction.
"Each step in this journey so far has been difficult," says Eva's dad Philip Dauernheim.
She was unable to breathe on her own and had to be kept on a ventilator.
"She was placed on a ventilator immediately in the hospital. We had no idea what we were facing in front of us for the next four months," says Philip Dauernheim.
Hospitals in Cyprus were unable to give eva the care she needed.
So three weeks after she was born, Eva and her family were transported by Hatzolah to Cohen Children's Medical Center for treatment.
"Dr. Heiman came into our cabin, and he asked if I wanted to change her diaper. That would be the first time I had changed her diaper, and it was 50,000 feet in the air," says Eva's mom, Karli Dauernheim.
Eva received surgery to correct her jaw and is now able to breathe on her own.
"We don't know how Eva will manifest, but we know she she's under the watchful eye of specialists who will catch changes early," says Dr. Howard Heiman, Eva's doctor at Cohen Children's Medical Center.
Now, Eva is able to spend her first Christmas with her family and spend some time with her big brother, Ezra.
"It's been wonderful having both of them be able to be together," says Philip Dauernheim.
