NICU farewell parade for Baby Sway after 118 days of care

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A baby has finally been released from the NICU after spending more than 100 days there. 

Baby Sway Smith, left the New Hanover Regional Medical Center Betty H. Cameron NICU in Wilmington Friday.  

After spending 118 days there, the staff gave him a farewell bubble parade before sending him home with his family.  

He was born 25 weeks premature.  

Sway required no surgeries during his time in the NICU and was sent home on oxygen. 

His mom, Candis Smith, is feeling all sorts of emotions over her son’s birth and finally being able to go home. 

“I’m overwhelmed and super excited, and nervous all in one. It’s something that we’re going to experience together and we’re going to take it day by day,” Smith said. 

The smiths tell WWAY; they’re grateful for all the hard work of the medical staff. Brandy Garris is the NICU manager. She says relationships the staff fosters with families like the Smiths make their work rewarding. 

“Our families are sometimes here a really long time and our staff develop relationships with those families and really support them on the journey and so, when they do get to go home, that really, it makes the team proud that they were able to help them through that,” Garris said. 

NHRMC’s NICU is a level three 45-bed unit that offers premature or critically ill babies technically advanced, lifesaving care.