Indra Petersons: The journey of her daughter Laila from cardiothoracic unit to normalcy!
Indra Petersons is an American meteorologist. She is married and has two children. Her youngest child, daughter Laila had neonatal heart issues that needed open heart surgery on day three of her life. Laila is now going to be three years old this November. A recap of her life and health journey from birth until now.
Indra Petersons and her husband and children
Indra Petersons is an American meteorologist who is working with NBC news. Born in Los Angeles in California, Indra did her BS degree from the university of Arizona.
Her husband is Jake Wood who is a native of Bettendorf, Iowa and is a former United States Marine Corps Scout Sniper. After retirement, he has co-founded the Team Rubicon. This is a non-governmental non-profit organization for management of disaster emergencies.
Indra dated and wed Jake on 10 August 2013. Additionally, Jake is an author and has penned the book Once a warrior. It is a story of how a veteran found a mission that was closer to his home.
Indra delivered her first baby, daughter Valija on 4th of July 2016. The proud mother regularly posts pictures of her family on her Instagram. And she and her husband love to travel and she uploads travelogues on her social media for her subscribers.
Indra and her second baby
Indra got pregnant the second time. And on 21 November 2020, Indra had a second delivery. This time, it was a girl child whose name is Laila. Sadly, Laila had health issues immediately after birth. Neonatologists and cardiologists diagnosed her with congenital heart malformation. Laila had TGA with VSD (Transposition of the great arteries with venticular septal defect). Luckily , she was stable and got operated on day three of her life. At that time, Indra wrote on her Instagram:
“Meet Laila Faith Wood
Born @11:49am
8lbs 9oz ~ 39 weeks
Please keep her in your prayers for her upcoming surgery. #DTGA #VSD. Some tough hours but Laila is stable. Mom is grateful to have avoided a c-section and is recovering as fast as possible to hopefully join Laila and Dad tomorrow at Children’s Hospital. #CTICU.”
The child was on oxygen and tubings for a week. On 29 November, she was off all the tubings and oxygen and Indra could hold her in her hands. The happy mother wrote on her social media:
“No words will ever describe the feeling when you get to hold your baby for the first time, one week after birth… and knowing it’s the first time she has EVER been held. A true gift from God. My 😇 Laila (lie-la) FAITH.”
On 12 February 2021, Laila updated:
“Belated Super Bowl pics with my girls. Laila is thriving. #heartwarrior. Thanks to everyone for their ❤️ and support.”
How is Laila now? Her milestones?
Laila was under strict monitoring and follow up of neonatologists and they thoroughly checked her gain of milestones and noted them at each visit.
Indra updated her fans about Laila’s health, writing on 24 November 2021:
“My little heart warrior on her alive day anniversary.”
“One year ago, Laila underwent open heart surgery just 3 days after being born. I never got to hold her at birth and instead watched her whisked away to another hospital while I fought hard to get released for a few days. (We wanted her surgery at Children’s Hospital which doesnt have a delivery ward). With time, her condition deteriorated. I truly believe she needed to know her mom didn’t abandon her in order for her to have the strength and willpower to fight.”
“Once we were reunited, she immediately stabilized and was put on heart-lung bypass. All of her tiny arteries were disconnected by hand and switched to their proper placement . (Transposition of the Great Arteries or DTGA). She went from being one of the most unstable cases to one of the fastest recoveries. Mom never left her side over 3 weeks, including Thanksgiving. With Covid, Dad was not allowed to stay but came in as soon as doors opened each morning. He made sure Laila had her Papa by day and that our toddler Valija had him by night. He was our rock.”
“So many of you have been on this incredible journey with us and we are forever grateful!
The closer this anniversary has approached, the harder it has been. It is amazing what the body holds onto even though you try to push all those memories away. I think she knows how hard it’s been on me and decided to surprise me with saying Momma all day. She even just started walking. She’s truly our miracle baby. That willpower is no joke, but it’s also our biggest blessing. ❤️💪”
At 20 months of her age, Laila was doing well and was above average in all aspects of her development.
Short bio on Indra Petersons
Indra Petersons is an American meteorologist and mother-of-two. More bio…