In the vast tapestry of life, the stories that stand out as extraordinary are stories of courage, love, and unwavering determination. Nicole Dib’s story is one of these remarkable stories, a testament to the power of motherly love and the resilience of the human spirit.
Nicole’s journey began with the premature birth of her son Jibreel at just 25 weeks. This courageous mother refused to succumb to the gloomy prognosis of the medical establishment and fought alongside her young son for five long months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Affectionately known as “Jibby”, Jibreel entered the world as a fragile soul, weighing just 1.8 kilos. Nicole and her husband faced an agonizing decision – the possibility of turning off their son’s life support. Doctors presented them with this grim choice on five separate occasions, each time painting a bleak picture of Jibby’s chances of survival.
“I remember sitting in the NICU and sitting there with an 838-gram baby and hearing all the beeps and the life support equipment that was keeping him alive,” Nicole recalled. “I look left, I look right, looking for some hope and another success story.”
Against all odds, Jibby defied dire predictions and showed incredible resilience. Today, at four years old, she is living proof of the power of hope and the love of a determined mother. His journey is miraculous despite being diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
Nicole’s mission is to share her and Jibby’s story with the world and offer hope and inspiration to parents who find themselves in a similar situation. He wants them to know that giving up should never be the answer, no matter how insurmountable the challenges may seem.
“I feel like opening up and sharing our story and giving others hope is part of my healing,” Nicole said. “Our only wish is to help other families who are going through the same thing.”
This brave mother understands that her pregnancy with Jibby is full of potential difficulties. Her older daughter, Aaliyah, arrived prematurely at 33 weeks and required special care for two weeks. However, Nicole’s journey with Jibby was even more arduous, her water breaking at just 25 weeks.
“I just thought it was leaking a little bit; it was just dripping, and then a few minutes later it all spilled out and I was like, ‘Okay, that’s too bad, it’s too soon,'” she recalled. “When we were in ICU for two weeks before, we felt like it and we knew it was the best place to be at the Royal Women’s Hospital, so I called my husband and we knew straight away what to do.”
“I just thought it was a little leak, it was just dripping and a few minutes later it all came out and I was like, ‘Okay, that’s too bad, it’s too soon,'” she said. “Being in ICU for two weeks, we felt like it and we knew it was the best place to be at the Royal Women’s Hospital, so I called my husband and we knew straight away what to do.” The baby had an extremely slim chance of survival, so doctors did everything in their power to prevent Nicole from giving birth.
In an attempt to delay the baby’s birth and help his lungs develop before birth, Nicole was given medication including magnesium and steroids. But after three days, the baby had to be delivered by emergency cesarean section.
He lasted about three days before deciding it was time. She told the paper: “Even one day makes a significant difference.” (Hospital staff) said, “We’ve got to take you in for an emergency C-section, and as they were about to do it, they said ‘Look, Nicole, you’ve got to push and here comes Jibby, 838 grams.’
Jibby was taken to the intensive care unit, where doctors fought valiantly to save him, but Nicole was unable to restrain him. When she finally saw him, she was shocked because he didn’t resemble a regular newborn at all, but rather the baby in her ultrasound photos.
“The first time I saw him, I’m not going to lie, I got dizzy and felt like I was going to pass out because what I saw was something I would see on my app every day,” she recalled. “I opened up my app and was like, ‘Oh, what does my baby look like today?’ and it was just like that, his eyes were still closed, there was nothing of him.”
“From the moment they put him on my chest, it was so special and I was so excited, but all I could see was life support, he was really trying to breathe and I said, ‘Please, put him back,'” she recalled. “Everything went downhill from then on, all his organs started to die and his intestines started to die.”
Doctors had to partially remove Jibby’s intestine and also gave him a special bag to collect the waste to help preserve the organ.
Jibby’s parents were asked if they wanted to continue the effort, even knowing the damage their son’s body was enduring during this difficult time when Jibby’s little body was weakening.
“As Jibby’s condition worsened, they often gave us the choice of continuing to fight or giving up and turning off Jibby’s life support. We begged them to do everything in your power to save Jibby,” she said.
“One night we got a call from the doctor informing us that Jibby passed out and needed to be revived, but he’s alive and well now. He almost died. It all happened at once and I had no idea what planet.” I was confident that Jibby was in great hands and I am grateful to have had their help.
According to Nicole, Jibby keeps everyone guessing with her surprising advances. He even started walking on his own the day before the first botox. Children with cerebral palsy can benefit from Botox therapy to help them become less stiff and tense.
Jibby is a bubbly and independent four-year-old boy who is full of zest for life, except that he now wears special braces on his legs.
“I knew at the time that there was always light at the end of the tunnel, but I’m just so grateful that I kept going and didn’t give up,” she said. “Even with early intervention, I had some reservations in my head. Even though we didn’t always see results, I’m glad we persevered and continued to work.”
Jibby’s journey is a testament to the extraordinary willpower of a mother’s love and the resilience of a little warrior. He continues to amaze everyone by making unexpected progress, such as taking his first steps the day before his first botox.
Botox, typically associated with cosmetic use, is a treatment used in children with cerebral palsy to relieve muscle stiffness. Jibby now wears special leg braces but is otherwise an energetic four-year-old with a zest for life.
Nicole’s story is one of hope, determination, and the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child. It’s a story that inspires and uplifts, reminding us that in the face of adversity, love and resilience can triumph.
“I knew back then that there was always light at the end of the tunnel, but I’m just so grateful that I just kept going and didn’t give up,” she said. “I had doubts in the back of my mind even after the early intervention. Some days we didn’t make any progress, but I’m so glad we stuck with it and pushed on.”
Nicole’s journey alongside Jibby serves as a beacon of hope for parents facing similar challenges. Her unwavering spirit and love for her son lit a path that says no matter how dark the night may seem, the dawn of a new day is always within reach.