Creston Grant has worked as a helicopter firefighter and police officer, both of which are high-intensity careers. However, he says the most stressful experience of his life was getting a call that his pregnant wife, Lauren — a labor and delivery nurse at MultiCare Deaconess Hospital — had checked into the hospital for an emergency cesarean section. Fortunately, the procedure went well, and Ellie Louise was born at 31 weeks, weighing less than 2.5 lbs.
Creston and Lauren also count themselves lucky that they were only 15 minutes away from Ellie’s temporary home at the Deaconess NICU.
“Lauren and I went to almost every feed and visiting time,” Creston says. “It made that transition much easier — we could feel we were doing everything we could, and we were still getting to see her every day.”
For 50-plus days, Ellie received expert care from her NICU team, along with four occupational therapists who helped with her bilateral clubfeet. Everyone’s calm demeanor and positive outlook put the Grant family at ease; they knew their daughter was in good hands.
NICU staff also understood how critical it was to involve Creston and Lauren in Ellie’s routine.
“The most important thing the staff did was to include us,” Creston explains. “Even though we couldn’t take her home right away, we felt Ellie knew who we were, and we could be along for the ride — whether it was changing diapers or doing skin-to-skin contact.”
A few years later, and Ellie has grown from the third percentile to one of the taller kids at daycare. Although she wears braces nightly, her clubfeet don’t stop her from being wicked fast and a master climber. She also has a heart of gold and is mentally strong, an attribute her parents credit to the early obstacles she’s had to overcome.
Enamored with their nearly 3-year-old, Creston and Lauren leaped at the opportunity to assist with MultiCare Inland Northwest Foundation’s 2022 Heart Strings event after hearing the concert was benefiting the NICU.
“To go to this event and see how many people out of the kindness of their hearts are like, ‘I’m going to donate’ was incredible,” Creston shares. “For the rest of our lives, each of us will try to do everything we can to help support the NICU.”
