Meet Mason, a TMH Miracle Baby
Mason thrives after 124 days in the NICU
For some women, the second trimester of pregnancy is the “easy” one – the tiredness has dissipated, morning sickness lessened, and they can still move around with ease. But for Akliyah Mitchell, something felt off at 24 weeks into her pregnancy.
Expecting her first baby, a little boy, Akliyah paid close attention to her body. When she was experiencing shortness of breath, she headed to the Obstetric Emergency Department at the Tallahassee Memorial Alexander D. Brickler, MD Women’s Pavilion “just to be sure.”
While there, clinical staff discovered her blood pressure was 203 over 119 - a hypertensive crisis for a pregnant woman. Akliyah was admitted to TMH’s Antenatal Care Unit (ACU) to monitor her and her baby’s health.
She was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, a complication during pregnancy that causes dangerously high blood pressure, protein in the urine and other signs of organ damage. During her time in the ACU, her blood pressure kept increasing and the baby’s heart rate began to drop. It was determined that a cesarean section (c-section) would be the best option for her and her baby.
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Meeting Mason
On April 6, 2022, at just 25 weeks into her pregnancy, Akliyah’s doctor, A.J. Brickler III, MD of North Florida Women’s Care, performed a c-section, and Mason was born. He was immediately moved to TMH’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the region’s only Level III NICU to care for babies requiring intensive critical care. 
Akliyah and her partner, Omar, did not know much about the NICU but quickly learned it was the best place for their son.
“I was very nervous and was not mentally prepared to have a baby in the NICU,” Akliyah said. “I cried a lot those first few days, but with the help of the amazing nurses who explained the process, it helped me calm down.”
“The nurses gave me a hug and said, “It’s going to be OK,’ ” Omar remembered.
Growing Strong in the NICU
Being born at 25 weeks poses challenges for newborns. Babies that young are still developing their lungs, and their stomachs may not be ready to digest breast milk. Fortunately, with the help of the NICU team – including the neonatologists, neonatal nurses, pediatricians, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, dietitians, music therapists, baby cuddlers and more – Mason overcame these challenges and thrived.
He slowly but surely progressed – he was in the incubator for several weeks and started out with a ventilator, a machine that breathes for the baby while their lungs are still growing.
The NICU team was able to use Akliyah’s breast milk with fortifiers, giving Mason an extra boost of nutrition to help him increase his tolerance and eventually get him to feed on his own. After several weeks, Mason was able to feed through a bottle and no longer use a feeding tube.
The NICU Team Becomes Family
After spending long days and nights in the NICU, Akliyah and Omar became very close to the NICU team, including Desiree Fenniman, RN, one of TMH’s neonatal nurses and Mary Vickery, RRT, a respiratory therapist.
“Mason was a wild one – he would pull his tubes out and do all the things you’re not supposed to do, but we got that in check,” said Desiree, laughing.
Even though Akliyah and Omar lived in Tallahassee, the nurses in the NICU referred Akliyah to Ronald McDonald House Charities so they could be closer to TMH. This allowed her to visit Mason at all hours every day, leaving only during the nurse shift change to get some rest and then coming right back.
When Akliyah was resting, she received updates via text from the NICU team on Mason’s health. She formed lifelong friendships with some of them.
While she visited Mason, Akliyah sang songs, read books and prayed with him. The NICU nurses showed Akliyah and Omar how to care for Mason at his size, including bottle feeding, swaddling and bathing. The most important lesson Akliyah received from the nurses, she said, “was how to be strong.”
After 124 days in the NICU, Mason was able to hit all his milestones and be discharged – he maintained his temperature in an open crib, was feeding at his own desire and taking bottles at a volume to consistently gain weight.
Akliyah was overwhelmed with joy and had an idea of creating a sign the night before. On August 8, 2022, Mason graduated from the NICU and broke through the sign that read, “Goodbye NICU, I’m going home with my parents.”
In the lobby of the Women’s Pavilion, Mason was met with cheers, hugs and happy tears from the NICU team as the family left to start their new beginning.
“She cried, and I cried with them,” Mary said.
“We are here for the families and each other, good or bad,” Desiree said. “It is our job as the nurses to make those families feel comfort in any way we can.”
Mason Thrives as a Toddler
Now at 2 years old, Mason attends physical therapy once a week at Tallahassee Memorial Pediatric Outpatient Rehabilitation to help strengthen his legs and back. While at physical therapy, he works with a therapist to practice standing balance, walking with assistance of a walker and pedaling a tricycle.
Mason has been crawling more and trying to take steps without the walker. He also loves to eat, play with his toys, blow kisses, listen to music and dance.
“I’m grateful to have Mason with me every day,” Omar said. “He is a blessing.”
“Life is amazing with him. If you’re having a bad day, just seeing Mason smile is very contagious. He will brighten up anybody’s day,” Akliyah said. “I love being his mom.”
To learn more about the region’s only Level III NICU and pre-register to give birth at TMH, visit TMH.ORG/NICU.
Mason's Team
Rehabilitation
Tallahassee Memorial Pediatric Outpatient Rehabilitation Center
1425 Village Square Blvd
Tallahassee, FL 32312
Phone: 850-431-7121
Women's Services
Alexander D. Brickler, MD Women's Pavilion
1300 Miccosukee Road
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone: 850-431-1155
