'A Christmas miracle': After a month in the Aurora Sheboygan NICU, baby Hadley comes home

Sam Bailey, Sheboygan Press
·2 min read
Tony Alten watches Hadley yawn as they pose with Harper and Samantha Alten by the Christmas tree in their home. The family was finally brought together the day before after Hadley spent a month-long stay in the NICU after her surprise birth.
Tony Alten watches Hadley yawn as they pose with Harper and Samantha Alten by the Christmas tree in their home. The family was finally brought together the day before after Hadley spent a month-long stay in the NICU after her surprise birth.

SHEBOYGAN — After spending a month in the NICU, baby Hadley is home with her family just in time for Christmas.

Nov. 21, Samantha Alten had a surprise birth resulting in Hadley being rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit in Aurora Medical Center – Sheboygan County as a result of undetectable glucose levels.

After struggling to build stamina to eat consistently on her own, Hadley succeeded and went home Dec. 20.

“It’s like a little Christmas miracle,” Alten said. “She made it home just in time for Christmas.”

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Samantha, Tony, Hadley and Harper Alten all pose together by the Christmas tree in their home a day after Hadley was brought home from her month-long stay in the NICU.
Samantha, Tony, Hadley and Harper Alten all pose together by the Christmas tree in their home a day after Hadley was brought home from her month-long stay in the NICU.

On Dec. 19, Alten found out she’d be able to take Hadley home the next day and was in shock, she said. She tried not to get her hopes up, because anything can change, but the more plans she made to bring baby home, the more real it felt.

Since day one, Hadley has been doing everything on her own time, Alten said, being born right before Thanksgiving and coming home just in time for Christmas.

“It's been overwhelming, but such a relief and exciting,” Alten said. “And today she turned a month old. So, it was just a nice, happy one month to her. She's finally home with us.”

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Harper, Hadley’s 5-year-old sister, has had a strong bond with Hadley since before she was born. However, since children aren’t allowed in the NICU, the sisters never met in person.

Alten said they kept Hadley coming home a surprise for Harper.

Hadley opens her eyes with a pacifier in the Aurora NICU.
Hadley opens her eyes with a pacifier in the Aurora NICU.

“She was at grandma and grandpa’s, and we walked through grandma and grandpa's door with sister and it was, 'That's my Hadley,’” Alten said. “… It was a good surprise.”

Harper said she likes having Hadley home and “she’s so cute.”

Alten said she and her family are extremely thankful for the Aurora team and everything they did. She said before Hadley left the hospital, all the nurses and doctors came in and said their goodbyes.

It really did feel like a family, Alten said.

Have a story tip or public interest concern? Contact Sam Bailey at sgbailey@gannett.com or 573-256-9937. To stay up to date on her stories and other news, follow her on X (Twitter) @SamarahBailey.

This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: A Christmas miracle: Baby Hadley goes home from Aurora Sheboygan NICU