The journey of parenting is full of milestones and celebrations, each one a testament to the strength of love and resilience. For Lindsay and Tyler Staup, both educators, milestones hold a special significance. They annually organize 100-day parties in their classrooms, marking joyous occasions. However, when their own daughter, Everly, spent her first 100 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Indiana, they knew they had a remarkable reason to celebrate.
Everly Staub was born prematurely at 28 weeks, facing multiple medical challenges stemming from her premature birth. At just three and a half months old, this young warrior has already undergone six surgeries and is scheduled for another to address her duodenal atresia and other complications.
Tyler, Everly’s father, speaks of her incredible strength, saying, “Everly is very feisty and she’s a strong little girl. She’s been through six surgeries already in just over 100 days and she’s made it through all of them. And we’ll say that, you know, I don’t know if us personally could have made it through. And she’s shown her strength in so many big ways and we’re just proud to be her parents because of all she’s accomplished.”
Amidst all her challenges, Tyler and Lindsay decided to honor how far Everly had come by throwing a 100-day party right in her hospital room. The tradition of celebrating this milestone within the NICU was a way to infuse fun and happiness into her journey.
On June 29th, Lindsay and Tyler arrived wearing matching “Hip Hip Hooray. It’s the 100th Day” t-shirts. Everly was adorned in a special outfit: a gleaming gold crown displaying the number “100,” paired with an adorable yellow tutu. Lindsay’s mother contributed by crafting the t-shirts and Everly’s customized onesie.
The celebration was shared with many members of Everly’s care team, including the dedicated nurses and doctors at Riley Hospital. Tyler expressed his gratitude, stating, “At Riley, we have the best nurses and doctors here. We’ve loved all of them that we’ve had, and I’d say that they make us feel so welcome and they care for us and they care for our daughter, and it’s just great to know, even when we’re not here, that she’s in wonderful hands because of the work that they do here.”
Lindsay’s pride in her daughter shines through, and she looks forward to showing Everly these 100-day pictures one day, revealing the incredible strength she displayed as a tiny baby. “She is just literally a light to the world. She’s a huge miracle and she has faced so many obstacles and she always comes out better in the end. We’re just so proud of her and she’s helped us become better people. And I don’t know, we’ve just grown so much in this experience and she has just shown us that good things can come out of bad situations. … I just love her so much,” Lindsay gushed.
Lindsay and Tyler’s gesture of celebrating Everly’s 100-day milestone amid medical challenges shines as a beacon of hope for other families navigating similar circumstances. Their story showcases the power of resilience, the strength of parental love, and the incredible progress a tiny fighter can achieve. Their hope-filled celebration extends its warmth to others, reminding us all that even in the face of adversity, there is always room for joy and love to flourish.
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