Lyla Dearmond

When Lyla was born, she had a collapsed left lung making it near impossible for her to breathe. Upon repair, it was discovered she had fluid filled cysts in the lower lobe of her right lung. She was life lined to Riley a few hours after birth, and had that lobe of her lung removed a few days later. She then spent 74 days in Riley’s NICU learning to breathe on her own so she could come off all oxygen before coming home. She’s been breathing really well and on her own ever since! She came home with a G tube and continued to have OT, PT, and feeding therapy to help her learn to eat and drink so hopefully one day she could have the G tube removed. After 2.5 years, our prayers were answered and hard work paid off and Lyla’s G tube was removed! She continues OT, PT, and speech therapies to help her developmental delays, but we are so thankful she’s eating and drinking on her own. Lyla was also diagnosed with a genetic disorder a few months after birth called Neurofibromatosis (NF1) which can cause tumors (mostly benign) to develop anywhere in her body. Thankfully she has remained tumor free as of now and sees several specialists at Riley routinely to just be checked on. Lyla is one smiley little fighter with a BIG personality and has impressed us with how she’s progressed and grown. She loves her big brother Daniel and all things Sulley (from Monsters Inc.). She loves going to preschool, reading books, playing soccer, and dancing! We are so thankful for every single nurse, doctor, and specialist at Riley who has saved Lyla’s life and worked with us to help her grow and get stronger every day.

-The Dearmond Family