Premature Baby Turned Valedictorian
Robert and Lisa Conrad were ecstatic for the birth of their first child. Unfortunately, Lisa’s water broke prematurely after suffering a ruptured membrane. Lisa was admitted to Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC eight weeks before their daughter’s due date.
 Lisa was given steroids to bolster her unborn baby’s underdeveloped lungs. The baby was also in breech position. Because Lisa’s water broke early, the risk of infection increased. Her doctors decided to induce labor nearly five weeks early.
To the right: Despite experiencing developmental delays as a baby, Erin Conrad recently graduated high school as her class' valedictorian. She starts college this fall at Northeastern University in Boston, MA.
July 17, 1991 marked the birth date of their beautiful daughter, Erin Joy. At just 5 lbs., 4 oz., Erin was born with pneumonia in both lungs. She was immediately carted off to Magee’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) where she remained for two weeks. There, she faced additional complications with brain bleeds. Her lungs were still premature and she suffered heart complications.
Finally, after wonderful, round-the-clock care and support in Magee’s NICU, Erin was welcomed home Aug. 1. Early on, she suffered developmental delays such as not being able to hold her head up until eight months and not walking until 17 months.
When Erin began preschool, her parents noticed drastic developmental improvement and realized she was very bright. Through eighth grade, Erin participated in Carnegie Mellon University’s C-Mites program for gifted students and participated in their robotics program. After eighth grade, Erin attended a summer program for gifted readers at Amherst College. At Ambridge Area High School, she was president of Student Council, both the science and Spanish clubs, the band, and was awarded a scholarship from the Beaver County Bar Association for her participation in a Mock Trial Competition. For the past two years, Erin was student director of the school’s annual play.
Erin graduated high school as the class valedictorian in June 2009. She looks forward to attending Northeastern University’s Honors Program in Boston, MA this fall where she will study cultural anthropology.
“We will miss her, but believe she is on her way to fulfilling a destiny that began in your [Magee’s] Unit 18 years ago,” states Lisa. “Shortly after Erin’s NICU stay, one friend told me it was a time we would never forget and one Erin would never remember. I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
The Conrads want to say “thank you” to all the NICU nurses, doctors, and staff who saved their daughter. “We owe them more than words could ever express,” says Lisa.
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