Triplet Henry White Returns Home to Grand Junction After 670 Days in Hospital

Grand Junction—Henry White, one of triplet sons of Rebecca and Daniel White, returned to his Grand Junction home on Thursday, Sept. 3, after 670 days spent in four hospitals across three states. Born at just 1 pound and 5 ounces, Henry required extensive critical care before joining his brothers, Benjamin and Peter, at home.

The Grand Valley parents learned they were pregnant with triplets in 2024, a rare occurrence in the region's recent history. Rebecca White, a Grand Valley native, and her husband, Daniel White, were prepared for a challenging journey, noting that a relative had triplets over 50 years ago, but only two survived.

By about 20 weeks' gestation, Rebecca developed severe gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. Doctors at Intermountain Health St. Mary’s Regional Hospital discovered these complications stemmed from Henry having an insufficient placenta. Rebecca rejected the initial suggestion from her medical team for a C-section, as Henry was not yet viable. "We were advised that there were no other issues, so we felt that it was safe to stay in the valley," Rebecca said, determined to keep all three triplets together.

At 25 weeks, Henry’s placenta failed, leading to Rebecca’s hospitalization until week 29, when an emergency C-section became necessary. While Peter and Benjamin were born relatively smoothly and spent 50 and 70 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), respectively, returning home with only low-flow oxygen support, Henry’s condition rapidly worsened.

Rebecca and Daniel knew something was wrong late on the third night after Henry’s birth. Daniel said Henry's care escalated quickly and severely, with his oxygen requirements shooting up, feeding issues, a bloated stomach, and reliance on a fentanyl drip. Rebecca described the experience as "two very different experiences"—gratitude for Peter and Benjamin, while Henry fought for his life.

Because St. Mary’s, the only NICU on the Western Slope, did not have a pediatric surgeon, Henry needed transfer to a higher-acuity hospital. A snowstorm across the Rocky Mountains prevented a Life Flight to the Children’s Hospital of Colorado in Denver. Instead, Daniel and Henry were flown to a children’s hospital in Salt Lake City. Rebecca spent her initial postpartum weeks alone in Grand Junction with Peter and Benjamin in the NICU. Rebecca credits Daniel's journey to Utah for Henry's survival, citing the lack of continuity at the teaching hospital and Daniel's vigilance alongside two primary nurses.

Henry’s condition improved for a few weeks, and his bowels healed without surgery. However, he then contracted a severe staph infection. Combined with constant pressure from a life-sustaining ventilator, Henry developed bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a serious respiratory condition. The parents took shifts in Utah with Henry, while the other stayed in Grand Junction with Peter and Benjamin, who were at high risk during cold and flu season.

Daniel stated they tried to avoid a tracheotomy, but Henry struggled to support himself and was often sedated and paralyzed. By March 2025, four months after birth, Henry underwent a tracheotomy. By April 10, he had recovered enough to transfer to the Denver Children’s Hospital. Staff there were confident he would be home by July. However, on Mother’s Day, Henry had to be sedated and paralyzed for another two weeks due to weekly infections and frequent "desaturation episodes," where his oxygenation levels dropped too low.

Rebecca and Daniel, now 28 and 29 years old, said they are immensely thankful to bring all three boys home with healthy futures. Henry, who was 1 pound and 5 ounces at birth, now weighs 26 pounds. While they acknowledge their gratitude, they are also seeking community help for the significant expenses incurred over nearly two years of displacement. Beyond financial assistance, Rebecca and Daniel hope their story will inspire other parents and highlight the importance of perseverance and advocacy. Rebecca emphasized that parents can "save your own child’s life by paying attention, advocating and speaking up when things aren’t right." Daniel added, "We’ve always been of the mindset that we’re advocating for all three," stressing that "Rebecca’s always said the best thing we can do for his brothers is to give them their brother as they grow older. They’re triplets, not twins." Rebecca noted that Henry’s story "has changed a lot of other babies’ lives just like him."