Home / Health / NICU Warrior Arya Home After 236 Days!
NICU Warrior Arya Home After 236 Days!
7 Apr
Summary
- Baby Arya spent 236 days in the NICU before going home.
- She was born at 24 weeks, weighing just over a pound.
- Arya battled a heart defect and severe lung disease during her stay.

Baby Arya Marvella has officially gone home after spending 236 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Born on August 13th at just 24 weeks gestation and weighing over a pound, Arya's early arrival presented immediate health concerns for her parents, Sharifa Jackson and her husband. She battled serious conditions, including a heart defect and severe lung disease, and required multiple blood transfusions during her eight-month stay.
Despite the critical challenges, Arya showed remarkable strength, inspiring her medical teams across multiple hospitals. A significant milestone was her first time experiencing sunshine during an outing in a stroller, which her mother believes signaled Arya's readiness to leave the hospital. In her final weeks, Arya made rapid progress, leading to her discharge, celebrated by doctors and nurses who lined the halls to cheer her on.
The family's faith and the dedicated care from numerous doctors and nurses from Virtua, CHOP, and King of Prussia saw them through this extended NICU experience. Now home, Arya is looking forward to simple joys like stroller walks, wearing bows, and playing with her older sister, Cali.