LESTER PRAIRIE, Minn. — A Lester Prairie native decided to do what she could during a hopeless time at the hospital.
While her baby Sullivan was hooked up to a machine the size of half a hospital room during COVID, Amanda Judice started thinking about ways she could gain control.
Sullivan was diagnosed with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. His diaphragm wasn't properly formed, and he had major complications. For the first two weeks, Amanda wasn't able to hold her new child.
Today, Sullivan is healthy and the mother of five is able to focus her attention on helping others through her new business, Room 29.
"I can really try to focus on bringing something to help other babies and parents," she said.
Her online shop sells adaptive baby clothing, with access points in different parts of the pajamas for tubes and other medical needs. She designed the onesie with her father, a former NICU nurse.
"I just think back to how helpless I felt," she said. "I wanted to do something."
The name comes from the significance of the number 29. Her 3-year-old Sullivan was born Dec. 29, at 11:29 p.m. His medical care began in NICU Room 29 at Children's Minnesota.
"The kid pushed through," he said. "He's amazing."
Children's Minnesota began selling the customized pajamas this week. They are available for children who are premature through 24 months on the Room 29 website.
If you would like to sponsor a child's onesie, reach out to Amanda through this website.