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Phoenix Mom Excited to Celebrate First Mother’s Day

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Preemie Daughter Continuing to Thrive in St. Joseph's Nursery ICU

A new mom is excited to celebrate her first Mother’s Day this Sunday. For the past three months, Phoenix resident Yuliana Torres Aguirre has spent nearly every day in the Nursery Intensive Care Unit (NyICU) at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center with her daughter, Neelam, who was born prematurely at 24-weeks gestation, weighing just 1 lb. 6 oz.

“Being a mom is a blessing, and she is our little miracle,” says Yuliana. “My first Mother’s Day will definitely be special.”

Yuliana, 27, and her husband, Joel Torres Baeza, 24, welcomed their tiny baby girl in a surprise-delivery on Feb. 10, 2017. Aside from entering the world months early, Neelam also survived two brain bleeds.

“We had a rocky start,” says Yuliana, “but the NyICU team at St. Joseph’s are wonderful and they always do everything they can to make sure Neelam is OK so that we can go home soon.”

Last Saturday, St. Joseph’s hosted an early Mother’s Day celebration breakfast for all of the NyICU moms and this week, they received special handmade Mother’s Day Cards. Neelam is continuing to thrive in St. Joseph’s NyICU, and now weighs about 6 lbs. She will make the journey home in the coming weeks as she learns to eat without too much assistance.

Media interested in scheduling an interview should call 602.406.3312.

Publish date: 

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Media Contact


Carmelle Malkovich, External Communications Director

p: (602) 406-3319

[email protected]