"A Fighting Spirit": Connor's Story

“Connor had excellent care from the time he was admitted to the NICU to today. We are grateful for the doctors and care teams at Valley Children’s who have been wonderful to Connor and our family.”

- Susan, Connor's grandma

Born at just 24.5 weeks gestation, Connor weighed 1 pound 13 ounces and was in need of specialized care to survive. He had developed bleeding in the brain as a result of extreme prematurity, and received care at Valley Children’s, where leading specialists and his fighting spirit saved his life.

"There was a moment when Connor was first born that we weren't sure if he was going to make it because he was so premature. His outcome was uncertain, but the NICU team did an outstanding job caring for Connor,” said Susan, Connor’s grandma.

Connor was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, meaning that he would have difficulty with movement and maintaining balance due to muscle weakness. He has had several surgeries, including a shunt placement and replacement, as well as spinal surgery to improve his ability to walk.

Photo credit: La Bella Vita Photography

Today, Connor is 11 years old and thriving! He is able to walk with the use of a walker and can fly down the street on his adaptive tricycle. Connor enjoys playing with his friends at school, gaming at home and participating in kayaking and baseball through Valley Children’s Adaptive Sports program. In 2023, Connor served as Valley Children's Kids Day Ambassador, drumming up support and excitement for the thousands of volunteers throughout the Valley who participated in the annual fundraising event benefiting the hospital.

"Connor had excellent care from the time he was admitted to the NICU to today,” added Susan. “We are grateful for the doctors and care teams at Valley Children’s who have been wonderful to Connor and our family.”
 

The Littlest Patients. The Biggest Victories. 

Valley Children’s Hospital's Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) provides the highest level of advanced care available for critically ill newborns. In addition, Valley Children’s network of NICUs throughout Central California provides the opportunity for families to receive specialized care closer to home. Learn more about our nationally recognized care for our smallest patients >>