The Berken home in Lake Arthur is filled with love and activity. Although the oldest of the six Berken children have moved out, the entire family is together often for celebrations, meals and activities. In the midst of it all is the youngest, Faith, who will turn 10 years old this October.
“She is so loving and affectionate and funny and witty,” said Faith’s mom, Kayla Berken. “She loves rice and gravy and gardening with her dad. She likes to play the piano. She’s just fun and wonderful to be around.”
Faith’s Early Struggles
But, nearly a decade ago, there were serious doubts about Faith’s survival. Born at just 24 weeks old, she spent 333 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s & Children’s Hospital in Lafayette, fighting for every milestone and defying the odds stacked against her.
“It was very scary. She weighed one pound and 10 ounces. Her skin was very translucent and her eyes were shut. She was on a ventilator. Since all of our babies before her had been born at full term, it was not something we had ever witnessed before,” Berken said. “The doctors were honest with us that her chances were pretty slim at one point. But, they were going to fight for her.”
A Family’s Bond with the NICU Team
Faith steadily improved as her small body continued to develop. Berken homeschooled her other children during the day while her husband Jason was at work, then spent nights with Faith in the NICU. On Sundays, Faith’s siblings would visit. Because of the length of Faith’s NICU stay, the doctors and nurses at Women’s & Children’s not only watched Faith grow, but also bonded with the other Berken children.
“They basically watched our entire family grow over a year,” Berken said. “They helped the kids embrace the NICU, which was so important because it’s a scary place and our kids were very aware that Faith may not come home. The doctors and nurses were always there to explain things to the kids on their level so that they wouldn’t be afraid. I’m very grateful for a lot of things, but the relationships they formed with our family is at the top of the list.”
Faith’s Resilient Spirit
Dr. Amy Zeringue, a neonatologist and NICU Medical Director at Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s & Children’s Hospital who was part of Faith’s care team, said the philosophy of family-centered care is embedded into the work that takes place in the NICU each day.
“That’s a mindset and a goal that we have in this unit because we know that babies who have a lot of family support do well, not just in the NICU, but after they go home,” Dr. Zeringue said. “When you love your job and you want to come to work every day, that leads to these great relationships. It’s not just the technology that helps these babies survive. It’s also the love and service to the families.”
Because the Berken family learned so much about caring for Faith from the NICU team, they were prepared when she was finally able to go home. At the time, she was still on a ventilator and feeding tube, and needed several medications each day. Her siblings immediately jumped into action, learning about everything from medicine dosages to oxygen settings.
Nurses and therapists work with Faith as she prepares to go home after staying nearly one year in the NICU.
Dr. Zeringue said that, like many premature babies, Faith always had a resiliency and fighting spirit, two qualities that can play a key role in future growth and development.
“We always tend to see these big personalities in these little bodies in the NICU,” she said. “Faith was definitely like that from the first day, and we see it a lot. It’s actually a really positive sign, because that’s what they need to survive and thrive as they get older.”
A Name with Deep Meaning
In addition to Faith’s lively personality, Berken believes her family’s deep spirituality played a role in her daughter’s recovery. They prayed with doctors before Faith’s procedures and made it a point to conduct themselves in a way that the hospital staff – from food service workers and janitors to nurse practitioners and executive leaders – saw God within them. Therefore, it was only fitting that the Berkens choose a Biblical name for their youngest child. Berken had decided on Samuel during her pregnancy, when a vivid dream led her to believe she was having a boy. After a little girl was born, they decided on Hannah. But, the term “faith” kept coming up in conversation and embroidered on a blanket in Berken’s room.
Ultimately, the child was named Hannah Faith, although her family calls her exclusively by her middle name.
Faith, now nine years old, enjoys spending time gardening and exploring the outdoors.
“My husband and I were really focused on a name that glorifies God,” Berken said. “I still remember seeing the scripture on that blanket that talks about faith is believing in something you can’t see. We had been talking about her name for a while at that point, and that was confirmation to us that the Lord was approving the name we wanted.”
Faith’s Growth and Development
Although Faith is now nine years old, her body is about age six in terms of development, Berken said. She still is in therapy and has some issues with her hips and eyes. But, overall, she has exceeded all expectations. Her new favorite activities are playing volleyball in the backyard and preparing to be an aunt for the first time.
“We’re expecting our first grandbaby, and Faith is so excited,” Berken said. “She’s always been the youngest in the family, so this will be her first time seeing what it’s like to be a big sister. She keeps talking about wanting to play with the baby. It’s going to be really special to see them together.”
Ongoing Connections with Our Hospital
While Faith’s time in the NICU was several years ago, her bonds with the team at Women’s & Children’s remains strong. She has become a bit of a hospital spokesperson, promoting the Our Lady of Lourdes Foundation Ticket to Drive Jeep Mazda Giveaway and its ongoing expansion project. The heart of that project is a new NICU, complete with private family suites that will allow multiple family members to stay close to their babies.
“This expansion of the NICU will give families a private bed that will let them stay overnight, increase their bonding time and feel more like a nursery,” Dr. Zeringue said. “I’m really looking forward to using this as a way to increase our commitment to family-centered care.”
A Bright Future Ahead
There’s a good chance Faith and her family will be right there as the project progresses. Berken said they are all still close to many of the doctors and nurses who treated Faith during her first year of life, staying in frequent contact and sharing milestone moments with one another.
“When I see her, I see a lot of joy,” Dr. Zeringue said. “That gives us hope and determination to keep pushing ourselves to be our best for each baby we care for. When you see a child like Faith doing so well, it makes all of the hard work worth it. I truly believe she will be a thriving adult who provides service to her community.”
We hope your family never needs a NICU, but it’s good to know what’s available — just in case. Across our health system we offer access to the highest quality family-centered care:
- Northeast Louisiana: the region’s only Level III NICU at St. Francis Medical Center
- Greater Baton Rouge and the Northshore: Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital’s Newton & Betsy Thomas Family Center for Newborn & Infant Intensive Care
- Acadiana: Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s & Children’s Hospital’s Level III Surgical NICU
- Greater Jackson: St. Dominic Hospital’s NICU
