Infant discharged from Mercy Hospital after 110 days

On Aug. 30, infant Zion Oliver Moleon was finally discharged after 110 days in Mercy Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The 15-bed unit became a second home for Zion’s mother Corin Moleon, who spent almost every single night at the facility with her little boy.

“I wish we could clone her so we could use her expertise and her calm demeanor,” NICU Director Dr. Swarna Devarajan said. “We will definitely miss Zion and his mom, who became part of our NICU family. As a team, we bond with them, so he’s become part of the family here. Today, Zion is on track to live a happy and healthy life.”

Zion was born early via an emergency cesarean section on May 12 at 28 weeks because he was not growing in-utero. NICU Director Dr. Swarna Devarajan said that he was born with a slow heart rate and low oxygen. At birth, Zion weighed 1 pound, 12 ounces. Now, he weighs a much healthier, 8 pounds, 12 ounces.

“This has been a very long journey with Mommy and a lot of FaceTIme calls with Daddy,” NICU attending neonatologist Dr. Jordana Hannam said.

Moleon joked that the sleepless nights will continue with her baby home now, but she did not seem to mind as she held the healthy Zion with his little graduation cap.

“At first it was hard but coming here the nurses and the staff really helped out and I have a great support system at home,” she said.