Azaliyah’s NICU Journey

A 24-week pregnant Kendra Hudson was heading into work last November when she began to feel sudden pelvic pressure. When the pressure was followed by uncontrollable bleeding, she rushed to the nearest emergency department, which fortunately for her and her unborn child happened to be Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center (PVHMC), where she had access to high-risk maternal fetal experts.

Until this episode, Kendra had experienced a healthy pregnancy. PVHMC doctors diagnosed her with a condition called cervical insufficiency, which causes the cervix to dilate early. According to the National Institute of Health, cervical insufficiency affects 1-2% of pregnancies and is a significant cause of spontaneous preterm birth in the second trimester.

PVHMC doctors and staff worked to keep Kendra’s baby safely inside the womb for as long as possible. This would give her unborn child a chance to continue development. For the next six days Kendra remained on strict bed rest in the hospital. She was carefully positioned with her legs elevated to prevent contractions and also received medications to stop her from going into labor.

At 25 weeks, her body was ready to deliver. To bring Kendra’s micro-preemie baby into the world, PVHMC staffed the delivery room with a coordinated team of 13 specialists, which included neonatologists, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurses, respiratory therapists, and OB staff.

Baby Azaliyah entered the world weighing 1.76 pounds and she was immediately transferred to the NICU. Azaliyah required immediate respiratory support, including intubation and later a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine to deliver a steady flow of oxygen.

“When Azaliyah was delivered, she was crying, which signaled that she was strong enough to breathe on her own,” said PVHMC neonatologist Harjinder Singh, MD. “Our team was relieved, but there was still much work to be done to help Azaliyah survive after being born 15 weeks early.”

Kendra remembers the moment she and her husband, Andrew, were able to hold was able to hold Azaliyah for the first time—four days after her birth.

“She was so tiny and covered in tubes and wires, but she was mine,” said Kendra. “That moment meant everything.”

Azaliyah endured numerous medical conditions, including sepsis, adrenal insufficiency, jaundice and low sodium levels. Despite all the challenges, she was safe in the hands of Dr. Singh, who led a multidisciplinary care team to closely monitor Azaliyah as she underwent three months of care in the NICU.

Kendra, Andrew and the NICU team spent Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years together and grew close to their care team.

“They didn’t just care for Azaliyah,” said Kendra. “They cared for all of us.”

After 102 days in the NICU, on March 6, 2026, Azaliyah was able to go home. She still required oxygen, but she was strong, stable, breastfeeding and experiencing healthy weight gains.

“Leaving the hospital was emotional,” said Kendra. “We made sure to say goodbye to everyone—especially the nurses who had been with us since the beginning.”

Azaliyah is growing stronger every day. In the months following, the Hudsons have settled into a rhythm of feedings, appointments, and walks outdoors, which has brought joy to the first-time parents.

“There was a moment when I was walking outside, holding her, just praying and thanking God to be out of the hospital, away from the wires - it’s something I’ll never take for granted,” said Kendra.

Azaliyah still visits PVHMC’s High-Risk Infant Clinic and Milestones Center for Child Development, to see multiple specialists who guide her progress. The continuity of care has made Azaliyah’s transition home smoother.

“We didn’t get the traditional experience of bringing our baby home right away,” said Kendra. “But she was loved every single day—by us and by an entire team at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center who never gave up on her.”

*Article originally published in the Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center Foundation Summer 2026 healthcares Magazine.