Life-Saving Care Close to Home: Texas Children’s The Woodlands Designated a Level IV NICU

North Houston family reflects on baby’s life-saving treatment at Texas Children’s newly designated level IV NICU.

When Lisa’s baby, Jovanni, was born prematurely last October, he weighed less than three pounds. He was rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands.

“I was still recovering from the emergency C-section, so I had to stay behind. My husband rode with him in the ambulance,” Lisa said. “We didn’t know why he was born so early. It was terrifying.” 

Jovanni needed respiratory support and urgent, life-saving treatment to repair a hole in his gastrointestinal tract. The surgery was successful and the team at Texas Children’s was able to stabilize his condition. 

But his journey was just getting started. A few weeks later, his stomach began to swell.

“He had to have emergency surgery to figure out what was going on,” said Lisa. “He had two very serious infections — sepsis and NEC.”

NEC — or necrotizing enterocolitis — is a potentially life-threatening infection that primarily affects premature infants. The condition inflames intestinal tissue, causing the tissue to die. Jovanni’s infection was so severe that doctors put him on a maximum dose of medication to manage it. 

For the next few days, his condition was touch and go.

“They pulled us aside and prepared us for the worst,” Lisa remembered, pausing with emotion. “His chances of survival were very low. They asked if we wanted them to do chest compressions if his heart stopped. They were so kind and communicative, explaining all the risks and benefits and helping us decide what to do. We said to do whatever they possibly could to save Jovanni’s life.”

“We have seen babies in Jovanni’s condition recover, but it’s rare,” said Dr. Vanessa Mercado, Jovanni’s neonatologist at Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. “He had two brain bleeds during the infections and a heart arrhythmia. He was fighting for his life. At the family’s request, we got the chaplain involved.” 

“Jovanni was baptized in the NICU,” said Lisa. “We were preparing to say goodbye.”

The difference is life-changing

For babies like Jovanni — babies who need the highest level of medical care — having a Level IV NICU nearby can mean the difference between life and death. For the next five months, a multidisciplinary team of experts at Texas Children’s collaborated to save Jovanni’s life. He had multiple surgeries, and many ups and downs in his condition, but he kept fighting and finally beat the odds.    

“His journey was quite remarkable,” said Dr. Andrea Miller, a neonatologist at Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. “Saving his life was truly a team effort. It took numerous surgeries and experts in a variety of disciplines, not just neonatologists, working together as a group to give him all the care that he needed. He’s doing 1000% better than any of us could have predicted. We are so happy for him and his family.”

On March 10, Jovanni was discharged from the hospital. Lisa and her husband, Jose, finally got to take their baby home.

“He’s doing great,” Lisa shared on a recent phone call. “We are so grateful for Texas Children’s and all the doctors who saved our son. We are so grateful that a NICU was right there when we needed it.”

Level IV NICU 

In 2024, Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands was thrilled to achieve Level IV NICU designation by the Texas Department of State Health Services. This designation makes it one of only 24 facilities in Texas to achieve the highest ranking possible and provide this advanced level of care for neonatal patients. 

“This designation signifies to families in North Houston that Texas Children’s The Woodlands has the resources and expertise to care for the most complex neonatal cases,” said Ketrese White, President of Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands. “These babies require around-the-clock, highly specialized, multidisciplinary care, and now families know they have access to the highest level of treatment closer to home.”

Achieving Level IV designation required significant collaboration among NICU leadership, staff and employees. Comprehensive support services — including pharmacy, respiratory, physical therapy, lactation, nutrition and social services — were also required to help the neonatal team care for critically ill babies.  

Texas Children’s is the only Level IV NICU in The Woodlands. The hospital treats patients for the full spectrum of neonatal needs, including prematurity, genetic anomalies and complex medical and surgical needs.

“A NICU admission can be especially hard on parents because they are separated from their baby, which is why it’s incredibly valuable for families to have this level of care out in their community,” said Juanna Brandon, director of Patient Care Services. “It’s highly beneficial for a baby to have regular engagement with their parents to achieve their developmental milestones, so we encourage families to be in the NICU as much as possible. That’s made so much easier when the NICU is closer to the family’s home.”

A team effort

“We have been providing life-changing NICU care since we opened in 2017,” said Rebecca Slagle, Head Neonatal Nurse Practitioner at Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands. “Since then, we have continually grown our services until we can offer the full spectrum of care. It’s wonderful to provide these families with a Level IV NICU in their own neighborhood. When they surveyed our NICU for the designation, they found no deficiencies, which is the best rate you can get.”  

Heather Dalton, a registered nurse at Texas Children’s and the Neonatal Program Manager who spearheaded efforts to secure its Level IV designation, said that location is a crucial factor for families — and for babies who need urgent medical help. “We get quite a few patients from hospitals in the Woodlands — from right across the street,” said Dalton. “It’s very convenient that we are right here, right in their neighborhood. And it makes a critical difference for their babies.” 

“I am so proud of our team,” said Dr. Kristine Reyes, Medical Director of the NICU at Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. “Jovanni’s story is a perfect example of why it’s so important to have a Level IV NICU in North Houston.”

Jovanni is now 6 months old. He is a happy, energetic baby who loves being home with his family. Thanks to the care he received at Texas Children’s, his future is very bright.

“We are forever grateful for Texas Children’s Hospital,” said Lisa. “Thank you for saving our son.”

Learn more about Neonatology at Texas Children’s and Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands.