At 9 months old, Mackenzie Henry had spent her entire life in the Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She was born prematurely at 23 weeks and weighed 1 pound, 1 ounce and was 9 inches long. Her birth weight equaled about that of a Barbie Doll.

Unfortunately, Mackenzie required much more care than a Barbie and much more care than most newborns. She was diagnosed with bronchopulmonary displasia, which means her lungs were underdeveloped, and she required a trach in her throat to breathe.

While most parents are ready to take their newborn home after about two or three days, Brandi and Scott Henry had to wait an excruciating nine months before they were able to take Mackenzie home to Sevierville. During those nine months, Brandi and Scott had to leave Mackenzie in the care of the NICU nursing staff while Brandi took care of their 2-year-old son, Dakota, and Scott worked.

Having to leave Mackenzie’s side was very difficult for Brandi and Scott, but because of the relationships they made with the NICU nursing staff, it made things easier. Carol Beltz, R.N., was Mackenzie’s primary nurse, which meant that while she was at the hospital, her main responsibility was taking care of Mackenzie’s growing needs.

“We all turned into a big family. I knew that Carol was always there for Mackenzie, and that made all the difference,” Brandi said.

While Mackenzie was in the hospital, the nursing staff, especially Carol, made sure to teach Brandi and Scott how to take care of Mackenzie on their own.

“They really taught us how to take care of our daughter, and they used layman’s terms. That made things much easier. When we got home, we felt like we were prepared,” Brandi said.

Carol made sure to get Mackenzie into a routine and keep her there while she was at Children’s Hospital.

“When you think about it, Mackenzie wasn’t a newborn anymore. She had developed likes and dislikes and needed a sleeping routine just like any other 9-month-old,” Carol said.

Every night, Scott and Brandi would come to visit Mackenzie and assist Carol in giving her a bath and a massage, and then they would rock her to sleep. Mackenzie was sleeping through the night by the time she was about 5 months old. One thing that helped comfort Mackenzie was a tape recorder her mom and dad brought in to play soothing music. Mackenzie loves music and that helped her to go to sleep.

On May 6, 2002, the Henry family took Mackenzie home and she got to meet her brother, Dakota, for the first time. Brandi and Scott prepared Dakota for his baby sister’s arrival by talking to him about her delicate condition and by inserting a trach into a doll’s throat to demonstrate what Mackenzie would look like. They also explained to him that touching Mackenzie’s trach, or the doll’s trach, was a “no-no.”

“Dakota is very protective of his little sister. He likes to take care of his doll and fix its trach while we fix Mackenzie’s. He loves Mackenzie very much,” said Brandi.

After Mackenzie’s release, Carol and Brandi kept in touch and have become great friends.

“Brandi and Scott have been wonderful parents to Mackenzie. I really credit Mackenzie doing so well to them. Brandi has been such an advocate for Mackenzie,” Carol said.

Children’s Home Health services cared for Mackenzie after her original release. Every other week, they would go to the Henrys' home and deliver trach and feeding tube supplies. Her trach was removed June 16, 2003.

“So many times, she was close to death. But she is a real fighter and a real joy,” Carol said. “The staff and her parents had determination and faith that she would go home, and she did. Mackenzie’s strength is amazing. She is truly a miraculous little girl.”

“Everyone at Children’s Hospital was so attentive with Mackenzie and with us,” Brandi said. “They all seemed to care for us like we were family and always explained everything to us. We’re very thankful.”