On January 27, 2016 this little Baby Warrior was born just one day past his due date. Proud parents to be went into labor naturally, with a full term, healthy baby on the way. So exciting! Shad Selby and Jessica Baiocchi have been building on this love of theirs for many years...and finally they were ready to put the cherry on top of their cupcake of love!

Baby Boy Selby was 8 lbs. 1 oz., 21 inches long. He had cooked for 40 weeks, just like he was supposed to. He was delivered via emergency Cesarean Section and after a traumatic birth he has been in the tender, loving care of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Staff at Sutter Medical Center Sacramento ever since.  For 72 hours, he had to undergo cooling therapy, in hopes of stopping or reversing any brain damage caused by his traumatic birth. During that time, he had many monitors, including a continuous EEG to watch his brain waves.   He couldn't be held or touched.  He couldn't have his first bedtime story read to him.  He couldn't feel his mama's heartbeat next to his own.  For three and a half long days, Shad and Jessica waited to hold their Baby Warrior.

The nurses and doctors slowly warmed him over the next 12 hours.  It was then that Mama got to read him his first bedtime story, and Daddy caught it on his cell phone. It's beautiful.  Shad and Jessica said I could share that beautiful moment with you.  Grab some tissue.

Mama Jess is recovering at home now, while Lil Nug (his daddy calls him that) must remain in the NICU...with Mama and Daddy having to go back and forth several times per day to spend time with their beautiful fighter. Mama is self-employed and doesn't get paid maternity leave. Daddy's new employers have given him the time off he needs and he is ever so grateful for that. Lil Nug is child #4 for Shad, and Jessica's first baby. She's been waiting her whole life for this Baby Warrior and longs to take him home. Soon, mama. Soon.

You'd be surprised how much it costs to park at the hospital. It's $15 for one day. If Mama isn't working, it gets tricky paying bills. There are going to be lots of co-pays for follow-up care, after he comes home. Baby Warrior is going to need Physical Therapy, and lots and lots of Doctor's  appointments. As he gets a little older, he might need speech therapy. There are lots of co-pays and parking passes and gas in the future. And there are three older sisters. One is getting ready for college next year.



There isn't much left for the essentials...it would be great if we could help them out so Shad and Jessica won't have to worry about ends meeting in addition to their worry about Lil' Nug. We need to wrap this little family in a blanket of love and help hold them up for a little while...we can do that much, at least.

This is the little baby warrior, with his battle gear on. ❤️