Two college scholarships were awarded to former patients of Abington Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit who overcame the odds during their first months of life.
Daniel Krupp, now 1-year old, was awarded the Dr. Ara Moomjian Scholarship. Daniel was born in 2014 at 27 weeks, weighing just 2 pounds, 8 ounces, and over came many obstacles including premature lungs and a heart defect.
"We would sit and talk about our dreams for Daniel. From him growing up healthy, to going to college, to becoming the best person he can be," said his mother, Danielle Krupp. Daniel's father, Larry, passed away one month after he was born, and Krupp says this award "helps secure our dream for him."
The scholarship is named after Dr. Moomijan, who semi-retired in 2015 as chief of Neonatology at Abington Hospital.
Cyamir Hooks, also 1-year old, was awarded the H.F. "Gerry" Lenfest Scholarship. Cyamir was born in 2014 at 22 weeks and 6 days, weighing 1 pound, 9 ounces, and only had a 7 percent chance of survival.
"Cyamir has proven to be our very own little superman, he fought to be here with us and he's continuing to thrive and do the best he can for someone that was in his situation," said his mother, Katrice Gray-Hooks, "We hope nothing but the best for our son in the near future and with this scholarship, his future is already looking like its going to be a great one."
The scholarship is named after the philanthropist and long-time supporter of Abington Hospital.
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The scholarships were funded through the Ralph Schrager Memorial Fund in memory of Dr. Schrager, a neonatologist in Abington's NICU.
