Growing Strong with Elaina Hedtke

03/15/2026

I just called to check on Elaina! We’ve been living in her room with her since March 1. We came home this weekend for her big sisters birthday but plan on returning on Tuesday. Her nurse said Elaina is going through the withdrawal TRENCHES. They’re weaning her off her very last set of sedation medication and she’s not handling it well. She’s extremely irritable, very nauseous, and is back to having watery stools. They are giving her Tylenol as comfort.

For the past 2 weeks, that girl has been in my arms receiving all the kisses and cuddles so I know us not being there isn’t helping either. Y’all say prayers we get through this!

03/10/2026

Goodnight (NOT) from Elaina everyone! 😂

03/09/2026

I’m laying here in the recliner in Elaina’s hospital room, holding her while she sleeps on my chest. I can feel her little chest rising and falling against mine, taking big deep breaths. My nose is buried in her hair and her tiny fingers are wrapped around my shirt.

And for the first time in a long time, I almost feel…serene.

For 10 months I have begged for just one moment like this. One moment where everything is quiet and I can just hold my baby. And now it’s here.

She’s safe. She’s happy. She’s mine to hold onto.

Forever.

This journey hasn’t been easy. I’m here in the hospital learning things I never imagined I’d have to learn. CPR, tracheostomy care, emergency bagging, pushing meds through her G-button, how to keep her safe when we finally bring her home.

It’s scary. It’s overwhelming. And I won’t pretend I haven’t cried… a lot. There have been nights filled with fear, stress, and the weight of wondering if I’m strong enough for all of this.

But I’m learning.

And every day I feel a little more confident. Confident in how to care for her. Confident in how to protect her. And most importantly… confident in being her momma.

This moment right here — holding her while she sleeps — is everything I prayed for during the hardest days.

It’s beautiful.

And yes… a little scary too.

But she’s here. And she’s mine. And I will spend the rest of my life learning how to take care of this incredible little girl.

03/06/2026

I just realized I posted her most recent update to my personal page and not here 🙃 oops 😬

Elaina is doing well! No more vomit or fever but she still has diarrhea pretty bad. Because of that, her electrolytes are all out of wack. She keeps having to have magnesium drips because she literally keeps pooping it out. So no removal of the IV yet 😕

HOWEVER! She did 5 solid minutes of tummy time today without getting upset AND clenched a toy in her hand while sitting in her big girl chair. I know this might not seem like much to yall, but it’s absolutely major for her. 💕

03/04/2026

Whew 😮‍💨 today was….a day.

Last night, Elaina, Chris, and I were up all night long. Her IV machine kept alarming every 3 seconds. Multiple nurses, therapists, and even the team lead came to inspect the machine and her IV and we couldn’t figure out what was wrong 🥴

Then, this morning was an absolute nightmare. Elaina still isn’t eating her formula. She hasn’t eaten since Sunday. I think we’re finally over the hump of this rotavirus BUT we chased electrolytes ALL day. Her levels were all over the place. Especially her potassium and magnesium. So she had blood work constantly. Also, they tried to insert a catheter to get a urine sample to see where all her electrolytes are going. They attempted it twice and the second time, they made her urethra BLEED because they couldn’t get it in. At that point I had had enough watching her be in so much pain I refused the urine sample. She has been exhausted and sleeping on and off pretty much all day despite constantly being messed with.

Of course RIGHT when mom and dad finally lay down to rest, she wakes up and is ready to play. I took that opportunity to slap a bow on her 😅 hopefully tomorrow will be better. Praying for normal labs and then they will resume feedings! She hasn’t thrown up in 48 hours AND has been fever free all day. Fingers crossed 🤞🏻

03/02/2026

Elaina tested positive for Rotavirus 😞 so lots of cuddles, fluids, and Tylenol for our girl the next couple of days

03/01/2026

As Chris and I are on our way to go spend a couple days with Elaina in her new room in the ITU, her doctor calls me. She’s 99.9% sure Elaina has the stomach flu. She has continuously vomited today and had pretty violent diarrhea. They’ve stopped her feeds and started an IV. They’re swabbing her for all the things and we’re waiting on results. Talk about luck hu?

02/23/2026

Today, after 300 days, we are saying goodbye to the NICU. 🎉

Three hundred days.
Three hundred days of living inside hospital walls.
Three hundred days of alarms, machines, whispered prayers, and holding our breath.

Elaina has spent almost a year fighting battles most people will never see. She has endured more than I ever thought a tiny body could handle. More procedures, more setbacks, more “wait and see” moments than I can count. And yet, through it all, she kept going.

There were nights I didn’t know how we would make it to morning. Days when progress felt impossibly small. Moments when fear tried to take over. But Elaina, our brave, beautiful girl, kept showing us what strength truly looks like. Not loud strength. Not dramatic strength. Quiet, steady, relentless strength.

The NICU became our world. It became home in a way I never expected. The nurses and doctors held not only Elaina, but us too. They celebrated every ounce gained, every good blood gas, every tiny step forward. They cried with us. They believed in her. They helped carry us through 300 of the hardest, longest, most transformative days of our lives.

Today, as she transfers to the ITU, my heart feels everything at once. Gratitude. Fear. Pride. Relief. Hope.

This isn’t the end of the journey. We know that. But it is a monumental step. A chapter closing. Proof of how far she has come. Proof that she is stronger than the odds, stronger than the statistics, stronger than the fear that once felt suffocating.

Elaina, you have changed us forever. You have taught us patience, faith, resilience, and a kind of love that is fierce and unshakeable.

Three hundred days in the NICU.
Three hundred days of fighting.
And today, we take this next step forward, together.

I am so unbelievably proud of you. 💕

02/21/2026

This weekend we didn’t need anything but each other. Just quiet breaths, gentle love, and the miracle of being together. 💕

02/21/2026

Follow me on TikTok to stay connected 💕

Check out Raegan Dotson’s video.

02/19/2026

Some of you have followed Elaina’s journey over the past 10 months, and because of your kindness and generosity, she has raised $3,130 so far. Every single share, prayer, message, and donation has helped carry our family through moments we honestly couldn’t have handled alone and we are so grateful.

As we prepare for the next step, Elaina will be moving into the ITU soon. I will be staying in Little Rock for the entire month of March to complete required training and to be close to her during this transition. While I will be able to stay in her room, meals, toiletries, and daily essentials are not provided, and being away from home for that long brings unexpected financial strain.

I don’t ask lightly, but our family truly needs help to make this next chapter possible.

If you’ve supported us before, I am humbly asking for your help just one more time. Whether that’s a small donation, a share, or simply keeping us in your thoughts. Every little bit makes a difference and helps relieve some of the weight we are carrying right now.

Thank you for continuing to stand with us, for loving Elaina, and for reminding us that we are not walking this journey alone ❤️

Ways to Give:
CashApp- $RaeYarbro96
GoFundMe- https://gofund.me/54caf3c4c
Venmo- -Hedtke

Elaina Claire Hedtke was born on May 05, 2025, at 27 weeks and 3 days gestat… Raegan Dotson needs your support for Support Elaina Claire Hedtke's NICU Journey