Baby Sebastian Mata Ortiz

Weighing a mere 1 pound and 13 ounces at birth, Sebastian Mata Ortiz is now growing and thriving because of the care he received from the experts in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown Hospital.

Sebastian was born at just 25 weeks – 15 weeks too early. Coming into this world so early left Sebastian with few organs that were fully developed. The medical team had to support his lungs, liver, kidneys and skin, as they were paper thin and could not function on their own. Dr. Bruce Jenkins, Director of Neonatal Services for Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown Hospital, describes Sebastian as “little, but feisty.”

But to Sebastian’s mom, Alejandra Mata Ortiz, her little guy is not so little. He’s now grown to over five pounds. “It’s amazing. He’s so big,” said Alejandra.

In September 2017, Sebastian graduated from the NICU and was taken home to be with his mom, dad and big brother.