6band's Kang Jun-woo's son discharged after 131-day NICU stay

6band member Kang Jun-woo shared the news that his son, Woo-ju, who was born as an extremely premature baby weighing only 690g, has been discharged after 131 days of treatment. Kang expressed deep gratitude to the supporters, medical staff, and the government for their assistance during this time.

On the 26th, Kang posted a lengthy message on his SNS, saying, "Our son Woo-ju is being discharged on August 25th, so we are saying hello." Woo-ju was born on April 16th at just 25 weeks of gestation, weighing 690g. After receiving treatment at the hospital for approximately four months, he returned to his family's arms on the 25th, having grown to 4.16kg.

A 690g baby born at 25 weeks generally falls into the category of extremely low birth weight infants who require intensive observation and treatment. In particular, the shorter the gestation period, the more likely it is that the baby is born before various physiological functions, such as respiration, temperature regulation, and infection defense, are sufficiently mature, often requiring long-term treatment in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

For Kang's family, the 131 days were not merely a period of hospitalization. It was a time when parents and medical staff had to overcome crises together while monitoring the child's condition every single day. He confessed to those who sent support during this time, saying, "I was truly comforted and shed tears at every single comment and every single word of encouragement."

In particular, he stated that it was a great source of strength to hear from parents who had raised premature babies before, as well as from those born premature who have now become adults and shared their experiences. He explained that the practical advice and encouragement offered by people who went through similar experiences served as a psychological pillar for the family.

He also did not forget to thank the medical staff who managed his son's treatment. While disclosing the medical expenses incurred during the long-term treatment process, Kang revealed that there was another practical concern.

The total medical expense he disclosed was approximately 216 million won. This is a massive amount for an average household to bear. Kang recalled that while he initially focused on the child's treatment itself, his worries regarding the medical costs grew as time passed.

However, he explained that through health insurance and the state's medical expense support system, the actual amount the family bore was approximately 2.2 million won. He emphasized that "the total medical expense of 216 million won was an amount our couple could not have handled," noting that it would have been difficult to manage without the state's support policies.

Treating extremely premature babies is a field that requires long-term intensive care and specialized medical resources. From immediately after birth, respiration management, infection prevention, nutritional supply, and temperature maintenance must be meticulously managed, and the possibility of various complications must be continuously monitored during the growth process. Therefore, as the treatment period lengthens, the burden of medical expenses inevitably increases.

The reason Kang particularly emphasized gratitude for medical expense support in this post is not unrelated to this background. Beyond his personal family history, he repeatedly stated, "I sincerely thank the citizens."

Having completed 131 days of hospital life, Woo-ju has now begun a new daily routine with his parents at home. Looking back on the first day of discharge, Kang said, "The first day the baby came home was a very awkward day for both our couple and the baby."

He shared his thoughts, saying that as the child and parents, who had lived under the management of medical staff for a long time, spent a full day together for the first time, they actually realized the difficulties of ordinary parenting. He remarked, "I felt that all the parents in the world are truly amazing."

He also revealed the meaning behind his son's name. Kang explained that "Woo-ju has grown well thanks to the help of many people," noting that the 'Woo' stands for 'help' and 'Ju' stands for 'all around.' As a child who came into the world with the help of many people, it signifies that they will never forget that grace throughout their lives.

A life that started at 690g has returned home with a body of 4.16kg after 131 days. For Kang's family, this discharge is more than just the end of hospital treatment; it is a moment when the support of many people, the dedication of medical staff, and the social medical safety net returned a life to daily existence.

Kang concluded by saying, "I will live my life never forgetting this grace. Thank you."