Illinois Baby Goes Home After 300 Days in the NICU, With Some Help from Creed

A nine-month-old baby, who has spent his entire life in the hospital, was finally released from a suburban Illinois hospital. In addition to the doctor's, there's also the possibility that a certain song by a certain rock band should be thanked for the boy's against-all-odds recovery.

His name is Nathan Zarate, and he's the latest graduate of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Advocate Children's Hospital in Park Ridge, IL, a little over an hour northwest of Chicago. Per ABC 7 Chicago, his parents, Alicia and Jonathan Zarate, dressed him in appropriate graduation attire after what has had to be an exhausting nine months for mom and dad.

The Zarates were finally able to take Nathan, their first-born child, home last Wednesday after nearly 300 days in the NICU. Nathan's original due date was in March of this year, but Alicia noticed he wasn't moving. She also noticed that every time she played or performed Creed's popular song, "Higher," little Nathan would kick inside of her.

Alicia revealed the song served as her barometer for whether or not Nathan was comfortable or something serious was potentially wrong:

When I noticed something felt off, I didn't feel movement as much, I told [my husband], 'play the song. If he doesn't flutter, I'm going to the doctor.' And he didn't flutter, so I went straight to the doctor, and then the next day he was delivered. - Alicia Zarate, per ABC 7 Chicago's website

Nathan was born three-and-a-half months early, weighing less than a pound; he was one of the tiniest babies in Advocate Children's Hospital's NICU. His official birth-weight was 14.3 ounces, about the size of a soda can. Consequently, Nathan endured many difficult nights, even needing a tracheostomy tube to help his breathing.

It took nine months, but little Nathan has finally grown to ideal weight and will be heading home for the first time in his young life. He is set to receive home care with recurring visits from nurses, along with follow-up trips to the NICU.

Creed just performed at the Great Jones Fair in Monticello, IA back in July. I do not say lightly it was one of the most inspiring and enthralling concerts I've ever experienced. Singing songs like "Higher" and "With Arms Wide Open" with my girlfriend and a crowd of 20,000+ was truly moving. The power of music continues to be unmatched, as in the case of little Nathan.

Creed's lead singer, Scott Stapp, has also been in the news lately as he made a cameo in the new movie Reagan, about the life of former President Ronald Reagan, as Frank Sinatra of all people.

Read more about Nathan Zarate's inspiring story on ABC 7 Chicago's website.