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A Missouri baby who was born weighing less than a pound makes it home in time for Christmas

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A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

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A Missouri baby who was born weighing less than a pound makes it home in time for Christmas

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Dylan and Madie Statler leave St. Louis Children’s Hospital with their daughter, Evie, on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, after Evie spent 269 days in neonatal intensive care units at two Missouri hospitals. Evie sported a graduation cap signed by nurses wishing her well. She was born weighing less than a pound and left in time for Christmas at just over 13 pounds.

Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch

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Evie Statler weighed just 14 ounces when she was born on March 24 in Cape Girardeau. Her father Dylan painted flowers to symbolize his hope for Evie making it home.

Photographs and art by Dylan Statler

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Madie Statler gets a hug from nurse Michaela Drake as she gets ready to leave the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Louis Children’s Hospital with their daughter Evie on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023.

Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch

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After living 269 days in two Missouri neonatal intensive care units, little Evie Statler, born weighing 14 ounces in March, went home in time for Christmas.

By Robert Cohen St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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Evie Statler is surrounded by technology to keep her alive inside the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

Family photo by Dylan Statler

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Madie Statler visits with her daughter Evie as the premature baby is fed before being released from the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Louis Children’s Hospital on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. Evie was born at 23 weeks gestation, weighing just 14 ounces.

Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch

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St. Louis Children’s Hospital neonatal intensive care nurse Michaela Drake talks with Madie Statler and her husband, Dylan, about home care for their daughter, Evie, as the family prepares to head home to Cape Girardeau on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023.

Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch

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Mason Statler, 10, far right, sees his sister, Evie, for the first time since last summer as his parents, Dylan and Madie Statler, bring her home from St. Louis Children’s Hospital to surprise him with an early Christmas present in Cape Girardeau on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023.

Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch

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With her daughter, Madie Statler, at her side, Tonya Critchlow kneels at her granddaughter Evie’s crib, after Evie arrived home a week before Christmas, at their Cape Girardeau home on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023.

Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch

Michele Munz – 314-340-8263

mmunz@post-dispatch.com

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Home in time for Christmas

Dylan and Madie Statler leave St. Louis Children’s Hospital with their daughter, Evie, on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, after Evie spent 269 days in neonatal intensive care units at two Missouri hospitals. Evie sported a graduation cap signed by nurses wishing her well. She was born weighing less than a pound and left in time for Christmas at just over 13 pounds.

Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch

Mason Statler, 10, far right, sees his sister, Evie, for the first time since last summer as his parents, Dylan and Madie Statler, bring her home from St. Louis Children’s Hospital to surprise him with an early Christmas present in Cape Girardeau on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023.

St. Louis Children’s Hospital neonatal intensive care nurse Michaela Drake talks with Madie Statler and her husband, Dylan, about home care for their daughter, Evie, as the family prepares to head home to Cape Girardeau on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023.

With her daughter, Madie Statler, at her side, Tonya Critchlow kneels at her granddaughter Evie’s crib, after Evie arrived home a week before Christmas, at their Cape Girardeau home on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023.

Evie Statler weighed just 14 ounces when she was born on March 24 in Cape Girardeau. Her father Dylan painted flowers to symbolize his hope for Evie making it home.

Madie Statler gets a hug from nurse Michaela Drake as she gets ready to leave the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Louis Children’s Hospital with their daughter Evie on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023.

Evie Statler is surrounded by technology to keep her alive inside the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

Madie Statler visits with her daughter Evie as the premature baby is fed before being released from the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Louis Children’s Hospital on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. Evie was born at 23 weeks gestation, weighing just 14 ounces.

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