Alisa and Edward Lopez were overjoyed when they found out they were expecting. They had always dreamed of having a baby boy—and even had his name ready: Derek. Their due date was set for May 10, 2024, and every prenatal appointment showed a healthy, growing baby. Everything seemed perfect. But on February 1, Alisa began feeling sharp pain in her chest. Assuming it was just bad heartburn, she brushed it off and decided to wait until her next OB appointment the following day. When she and Edward arrived at the appointment on February 2, what began as a routine check-up quickly turned into a nightmare. Alisa’s blood pressure was dangerously high, and the doctor grew concerned about her chest pain. She was immediately admitted to Labor & Delivery, where doctors discovered she had preeclampsia that had progressed into HELLP Syndrome—a rare and serious pregnancy complication. The only way to save both mother and baby was to deliver early. On February 4, 2024, at just 26 weeks and 2 days, Derek Miracle Lopez entered the world via emergency C-section, weighing 1 lb. 5 oz and measuring 11.8 inches long. His middle name—Miracle—would soon prove prophetic. Within hours of his birth, the NICU issued a Code White (infant emergency). Derek’s lungs had collapsed (pneumothorax), and doctors had to insert a chest tube to help him breathe. Once he stabilized, Alisa was finally able to see her tiny son for the first time. But the next day, their world was shaken again. The doctor told them Derek’s oxygen needs were worsening—his lungs weren’t responding to the ventilator. They had only one option left: nitric oxide therapy. If it failed, they were told to prepare to say goodbye. Heartbroken, Alisa and Edward fell to their knees, holding each other and praying for a miracle. Hours later, their prayers were answered. Derek’s oxygen levels began to rise—the nitric oxide was working. Their baby was fighting back. Just when they thought the worst was behind them, February 13 brought another terrifying call. Derek’s medical team was manually pumping oxygen into him—his lungs couldn’t sustain him. He needed a higher-level NICU and was rushed to Kaiser Los Angeles. There, doctors struggled to understand what was wrong. Finally, a surgeon approached Alisa and Edward: Derek’s pneumothorax wasn’t healing, and his oxygen needs were critical. The only option was a thoracotomy—an invasive surgery to open his chest and search for the cause. Without it, he wouldn’t survive. After three agonizing hours, the surgeon emerged with tears in his eyes and relief in his voice. He had found the cause: a tear in Derek’s trachea and bronchial tubes. “I don’t know how he survived this long,” the surgeon said. “He truly is a miracle.” The repair was successful—but Derek still had a long road ahead. Over the next several months, Derek endured multiple blood transfusions, collapsed lungs, pneumonia, feeding delays, and countless rounds of being intubated and extubated. From CPAP to nasal cannula, high-flow to low-flow oxygen, Derek fought through every setback with unwavering strength. Because of his long intubation, Derek needed help learning to feed. On July 12, he had his second surgery—a G-tube placement—to help him grow stronger. Finally, after 165 days in the NICU, Derek was able to go home! Though he came home on oxygen, by October 2024, he no longer needed any breathing support. Today, Derek is a thriving, happy, and adventurous little boy. He loves watching the Dodgers with his dad, chasing his dog Cooper, and visiting the library with his mom. He continues to make progress through Child Development, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy, meeting each milestone with a smile. Alisa and Edward are endlessly grateful to the NICU teams at both Kaiser hospitals, who became like family and still keep in touch with them today. They’re also thankful to the March of Dimes for their encouragement and hope—especially during the hardest days in the NICU. In 2025, the Lopez family proudly joined the March of Dimes walk—with Derek by their side. It was a moment they had dreamed of since the day he was born. All it took was faith, love, and a miracle.