Atlanta, GA, August 22, 2026 —

MADISON, Wis. – A baby girl, identified as Raelynn Kubiske, has been discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at UW Health in Madison after an extended hospital stay of 375 days. Raelynn was born at just 23 weeks and six days gestation, weighing an astonishingly low 12.5 ounces at birth.

Her discharge marks a significant milestone, as she is reported to be the smallest surviving baby by weight to have graduated from UW Health’s NICU. The journey through the NICU is often challenging for premature infants, requiring intensive medical care and monitoring to support their underdeveloped systems.

Surviving such extreme prematurity and spending over a year in the hospital highlights the critical role of specialized neonatal care. The NICU environment is designed to provide the constant support necessary for babies like Raelynn to grow and develop, overcoming the significant health hurdles associated with being born so early.

The average hospital stay for a baby born at 23 weeks can be several months, but Raelynn’s 375-day stay indicates a prolonged period of care, likely involving numerous medical interventions and developmental support. While the specific medical details of her treatment are not provided, such a lengthy stay underscores the complexity of care required for extremely premature infants.

UW Health’s NICU in Madison provides advanced care for the region’s most vulnerable newborns. The successful discharge of Raelynn, especially given her initial low birth weight and gestational age, is a testament to the dedication of the medical staff and the advancements in neonatal medicine.



Story summarized from the original created by Mackenzie Davis, Akim Powell on www.atlantanewsfirst.com, see more information here.

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