"A Brilliant Red Rose": How Parkridge East Hospital helped Baby Leyric blossom through NICU and pediatric physical therapy care

When Stephanie Mullins first learned her newborn granddaughter, Leyric, would need neonatal intensive care at Parkridge East Hospital, she felt overwhelmed.

“It was a cluster of emotions,” she said. “I was terrified.”

Despite her concern, those emotions soon gave way to relief and, eventually, deep gratitude.

“The whole staff was wonderful and very encouraging,” Stephanie said of the NICU team. “Everyone was supportive and helpful. It got to be like family.”

Leyric spent just over a week in Parkridge East’s NICU following her birth. Though her stay was relatively short, the impact on her grandmother was lasting.

“I would call at night to check on her. They would always encourage me and let me know how well she was doing,” Stephanie recalled. “They weren’t just caring for her physically, they focused on my mental health too. It meant the world to me.”

But Leyric’s journey didn’t end after she left the NICU. After noticing some developmental delays, physicians recommended pediatric physical therapy — and Parkridge East was ready once again.

The hospital launched its new Pediatric Outpatient Physical Therapy clinic in December 2024, and Leyric was the very first patient.

“I was nervous when I found out she would need additional care at such a young age,” Stephanie said. “But the moment we met her therapist, Lexy, I knew everything was going to be okay.”

Lexy Hellerstedt Chapin, PT, DPT, leads the new clinic and had a hand in building it from the ground up.

“I evaluate and treat the kids personally. I get to see how the babies develop overall and reach milestones that were sometimes thought to be impossible,” Lexy said. “It’s been so rewarding.”

For Lexy, working with children is more than just a job - it’s a calling. Stephanie saw her dedication firsthand.

“Lexy is such a wonderful, wonderful person,” Stephanie said. “She took care of Leyric like she was her own. All credit to Lexy and the work she put in with Leyric.”

Over the course of three months, Leyric responded quickly to the therapy and soon began exceeding her developmental milestones.

“We see her continuously blossoming,” Stephanie said. “She’s going to become a brilliant red rose.”

Now, Leyric is thriving — crawling, exploring and even becoming quite the traveler with family trips to Washington, D.C., Gatlinburg and a cruise under her belt.

Through it all, Stephanie became one of Parkridge East Hospital’s most vocal advocates.

“I love Parkridge East. The whole hospital is just wonderful,” she said. “If you ever need care, trust that they’re going to take care of your family and give you the best care. I just love that hospital. It’s all-around amazing.”

As for Lexy, she feels honored to have played a role in Leyric’s journey.

“I love working in pediatric physical therapy because of the kids,” she said. “It's always super rewarding to see a baby, like Leyric, progress so quickly towards milestones.”

With her strong spirit, a caring grandmother and a team of dedicated healthcare professionals behind her, Leyric is more than just a NICU success story - she’s a testament to what’s possible when expert care is delivered with heart, hope and dedication.