10/01/2025
🎉 NICU Awareness Month Spotlight & 5 Years of Miracles! 🎉
Today, we're bursting with joy as we celebrate not one, but two incredible milestones: September is , and it's also the 5-year anniversary of the Level II NICU at St. Luke's Health-Memorial Lufkin! What better way to honor this than by sharing a truly heartwarming success story?
Introducing Baby Kassian Thompson, our newest little warrior who is finally going home after 59 days in our NICU! Born on July 14, 2025, Kassian holds a special place in our hearts as the youngest baby ever born at St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Lufkin, making his debut at a remarkable 30 weeks, weighing just 2 lbs 8 oz (1,150 grams).
Proud parents Grayam and Hannah Thompson are overflowing with happiness, and it's easy to see why! This adorable bundle of joy, loved by all his nurses for his mild-mannered personality (a trait he clearly inherited from his relaxed parents!), left the NICU on September 11, 2025, weighing a whopping 6 lbs 3 oz and 19 ¼” long! Our nurses were absolutely thrilled to witness his incredible growth by leaps and bounds.
The Thompson family's journey has been one of immense strength and love. After two miscarriages, Kassian is their first precious baby. Hannah bravely faced a challenging delivery, unable to be transported to a higher-level facility due to weather. But she wouldn't change a thing, praising the loving and caring support received from our dedicated NICU nurses, a sentiment mutually shared by our staff for these wonderful first-time parents.
Kassian's rich heritage shines through the medallion on his crib, connecting him to his Indian family from the Alabama Coushatta Reservation in Livingston – where he'll undoubtedly be "spoiled" by a big, supportive family, as dad Grayam (the oldest of 5!) proudly declared. And for all you fans out there, yes, his first name comes from the beloved galaxy far, far away! His middle name, Ray, honors a great-grandfather, a beautiful family tradition.
A huge thank you to our incredible NICU nurses! Your unwavering love, compassion, and tireless dedication make all the difference during the most stressful and emotional times in these families' lives. You truly are miracle workers!
This year, as we mark Five Years of Miracles at St. Luke's Health-Memorial Lufkin's NICU, we celebrate how this unit has transformed advanced care for East Texas. Our partnership with the nationally recognized Texas Children’s Hospital, championed by the vision of Dr. George Fidone and supported by the generous Mary K. and Clifford Grum Foundation, means that families like the Thompsons can receive specialized care for their tiniest fighters right here, close to home.
