The Salas Family

From: Dalton, GA

24 Night Stay

Victoria (5 lbs 2 oz) & Octavio Salas (4 lbs 3 oz)

When expecting twins or more, it’s often said to expect the unexpected. Yolanda Salas didn’t have complications during her pregnancy other than what might be expected with carrying twins. Though the twins weren’t expected for another few weeks, they decided 33 weeks was long enough.

 Baby Victoria and Baby Octavio were born on August 21 at Children’s Hospital at Erlanger where they were swiftly taken to the NICU for checkups. Victoria though born at 5lbs 2oz, still needed to grow and let her lungs develop more. Octavio was born a little smaller, weighing 4lbs 3oz. Though neither twins had major complications they both suffered from jaundice. 

Yolanda shared how she felt seeing them for the first time in the NICU, “I went and saw them and the first thing I saw was that [Octavio] was okay, because he was in the bassinet and just had the feeding tube and IV, but when I saw my little girl I was so emotional. Just seeing her with a feeding tube, oxygen, IV and with everything inside the incubator, I just felt like crying and felt like I didn’t know what to do for her.”

It’s truly unimaginable to parents to leave their child in a hospital, let alone have 30-45 minute drive back and forth to see them or if an emergency happened. For Yolanda and Octavio, Sr., it was hard to see their tiny babies in the NICU like that, but when they found out they could stay right across the street, they were relieved. They felt like it was a “home away from home” where they had the support needed and were able to be close to the twins.

“At least I got to see them and visit them any time I wanted to, especially because I was here close to them,” shared Yolanda. “This House is the best thing that has happened for families like ours. You feel like you’re at home here and you’re close to your babies. There’s nothing more to ask for.”

Both Yolanda and Octavio felt torn between having the comforts of home and being near to the twins, but also missing their three other kids at home with grandparents. Yolanda shared how sweet it was to have the opportunity for the entire family to stay together on weekends when the other three kids weren’t in school.

THANK YOU for helping keep families like the Salas’ together!