Journey to Wings: A Faithful Story for the NICU Parent | Faith Based Preemie & NICU Baby Book

A story of faith, hope, perseverance, and the beautiful journey from tiny beginnings to growing wings.

Journey to Wings: A Faithful Story for the NICU Parent is a heartfelt, faith-based children's book created especially for NICU families, parents of premature babies, preemie parents, and families walking through an unexpected beginning.

Written by Candace Renee Rice and inspired by the real-life NICU journey of her son, Maxwell, Journey to Wings transforms the experience of premature birth into a gentle story children and parents can experience together.

Through the story of two butterflies who welcome their baby caterpillar earlier than expected, families are introduced to the uncertainty, patience, growth, and extraordinary hope that can accompany life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The parent butterflies must watch their tiny caterpillar continue growing outside of his mother's body—mirroring the experience of families watching their premature babies grow and develop inside the NICU.

Throughout the book, Bible verses centered on faith, perseverance, and hope offer encouragement for the difficult days—the waiting, the uncertainty, the milestones, and the moments when faith may be the only thing a parent feels able to hold onto.

But Journey to Wings isn't simply a children's story.

It's a piece of a real NICU journey.

Inside the book are photographs from Maxwell's own seven-month NICU stay after being born at just 24 weeks, connecting the illustrated story with the real child who inspired it. Readers are able to witness part of the journey from an extremely premature baby fighting and growing in the NICU to a thriving little boy.

💚 Created for the Baby and the Parent

Journey to Wings was intentionally written as a book parents can read aloud at the NICU bedside, giving families a simple way to bond, speak words of faith over their babies, and create meaningful moments together—even when the NICU environment feels overwhelming.

It can also become a keepsake families return to after discharge as a reminder of just how far their little one has come.

This book may be especially meaningful for:

• NICU moms and dads
• Parents of premature and micro-preemie babies
• Families experiencing an extended NICU stay
• Christian families seeking faith and encouragement during the NICU journey
• Parents searching for a book to read aloud at their baby's bedside
• NICU graduates and their siblings
• Baby-shower or care-package gifts for NICU families
• Churches, NICU ministries, support groups, nurses, therapists, and organizations supporting premature babies and their families