'We made it': Chicago baby who weighed less than 1 pound at birth released from hospital

PARK RIDGE (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - After almost 10 months of staying in the neonatal intensive care unit, a Northwest Side baby is finally heading home.

Doctors, nurses, and family cheered on 25-week-old Nathan Zarate as he graduated from the NICU at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Park Ridge.

"It's just amazing. We never really thought we'd see the day to be honest,” said Nathan’s mother, Alicia Zarate.

She said it's been a long journey for her son, who spent nearly 300 days in the NICU.

Zarate said the story of Nathan's birth involves the 2000s radio station and the song “Higher”  by Creed.

"He would wake up to it and start fluttering around in my stomach. I noticed something felt off, I didn't feel movement as much,” Zarate recalled.

When she played the song and Nathan didn't move, Alicia went straight to hospital and Nathan was delivered the next day. He weighed just 14.3 ounces and had significantly immature lungs.

“That's the size of a coke can, I think they were comparing it to. He was about the size of my palm. It was unreal,” said Nathan’s father, Jonathan Zarate.

Now, he weighs 14 pounds, and Zarate said she's excited to finally bring him home.

"We made it! We're ready for a new journey at home,” she said.

Neonatologist Dr. Michael Cappello says Nathan's progress is inspiring.

"Through the support of the physicians, the nurses, the therapists, child life, and most importantly, his parents, his extended family, and Nathan himself, that's what got him over the hump to get where he is today,” Cappello said. “He's really doing great. He's thriving, he's smiling, he laughs, we're all really proud of what we've all done, but what he's done the most."

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