12/12/2025
Kaycee Cochrane knew her baby Augustās journey would be different long before birth. Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis during pregnancy and born prematurely at 32 weeks, August faced life-threatening complications from her first breath. After emergency surgery and a transfer to Oklahoma Childrenās OU Health, August began a fight for survival that lasted more than 300 days in the NICU and PICU.
Cystic fibrosis makes breathing and digestion extremely difficult, and Augustās case was even more complex because of prematurity. Her care required a multidisciplinary team ā including pediatric pulmonologists, pediatric surgeons, respiratory therapists, dietitians and many others working together every day in concert.
When traditional treatments were not enough, the team fought to secure early access to a breakthrough medication not typically approved for infants. That decision changed everything. Slowly, Augustās lungs began to heal, and she was able to breathe without a ventilator for the first time.
Today, August is home and growing stronger thanks to the expertise and relentless advocacy of her care team. Her story is a powerful reminder of what is possible when families have access to specialized, comprehensive care. At Oklahoma Childrenās, we don't just treat conditions, we fight for every childās future.
