Romie Granger fought to survive in the NICU, then returned to the Memorial team that saved him

Before Romello “Romie” Granger stocked shelves, prepared food and washed dishes at Memorial Hospital, he was one of its tiniest patients. Born prematurely and weighing just under two pounds, he approached every milestone with a quiet determination, overcoming hurdles as though he never knew they were supposed to stand in his way.

Nineteen years later, the hospital that once helped save his life welcomed Romie back — not as a patient, but as a Project SEARCH intern — teaching him workplace skills, building his confidence and preparing him for the next chapter of adulthood.

For Romie and his family, the experience was more than an internship. It marked an unexpected return to the place where his journey started. The determined young man who spent his first months fighting to grow strong enough to leave the hospital was now walking its halls as part of the team, supporting patient care behind the scenes, helping staff and gaining the experience needed to build an independent future.

Along the way, Romie has done what he has always done: prove that he is capable of more than others might expect. Through hard work, perseverance and a strong support system, he has grown into a young man eager to contribute, find meaningful work and give back to the same community that helped nurture him from the very beginning.

Hope in the Memorial Hospital NICU

Born nearly four months early in 2006, Romie weighed just 1 pound, 13 ounces. “My husband’s wedding band was a bracelet on Romie’s wrist,” his mother, Dominique, recalled.

Romie Granger in the NICU at just one pound 13 ounces

Romie’s arrival came after weeks of complications. Dominique spent a month on strict bed rest at Memorial Hospital while doctors fought to keep her baby from arriving too soon. Doctors sewed her cervix shut and placed her in the Trendelenburg position, an emergency maneuver that uses gravity to temporarily shift the fetus away from the pelvis.

Despite their efforts, Romie seemed determined to enter the world on his own schedule.

“The doctors actually recorded the ultrasound because they couldn’t believe what they were seeing,” Dominique said. “Romie was kicking his way through the stitches. That’s when I should have known he was going to be a fighter.”

The road ahead was far from easy. Romie spent 159 days between the neonatal intensive care units at Memorial Hospital and Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. Doctors gave Romie Indomethacin to close a hole in his heart. While the medication helped save his life, Romie later experienced many of the challenges associated with both extreme prematurity and the treatment, including respiratory complications and developmental delays.

Yet even then, Dominique never stopped believing in him and her faith carried her through. “When the doctors tell you what your child won’t do, and then they do it anyway, you learn to value those moments differently,” she said. “Every milestone meant everything.”

One of the biggest milestones came when Romie began talking. “They said he would have speech delays,” Dominique said with a laugh. “But once he started talking, he talked like he didn’t know there was ever supposed to be a problem.”

Romie Granger, Student Athlete of the Week

Despite those early challenges, Romie fit in with his classmates at Adams High School. He played basketball, ran the 400-meter dash in track and was the MVP of the flag football team.

Years later, in August 2025, another milestone brought his story back to where it began. Romie’s student counselor at Adams High School recommended Romie for the Project SEARCH internship program from ADEC, the Association of the Disabled of Elkhart County. When he learned one of his rotations would take place at Memorial Hospital, Dominique pulled out the photos from his time in the NICU, now part of Beacon Children’s Hospital.

“I told him, ‘You were here. These doctors and nurses took care of you,'” she said.

For Dominique, Project SEARCH wasn’t simply another school program. It gave her son an opportunity to build confidence, gain real-world job experience and show employers what he could do. “It gave him a chance to be seen,” she said. “It gave people the opportunity to see him work, see his skills and see his potential.”

Why Project SEARCH matters beyond its interns

Project SEARCH helps young adults with disabilities gain the skills and experience they need to succeed in the workplace. The program serves students ages 18 to 22 who have completed high school and are ready to begin their careers. It operates through a partnership between ADEC, Beacon Health System, South Bend Community Schools and Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation.

Romie Granger, 2026.

The program is much more than an internship. Participants spend part of each day working in real hospital departments and part of the day in a classroom learning the skills needed to succeed in the workplace.

“It’s really easy to learn how to do the job, but it can be really hard navigating the social nuances of work,” said Trish Hutchison, Employment Specialist and Project SEARCH lead at ADEC.

Each day includes classroom instruction where interns learn practical skills such as communicating with coworkers and supervisors, understanding workplace expectations and advocating for themselves. The rest of the day is hands-on experience in hospital departments.

Since launching at Memorial Hospital 15 years ago, Project SEARCH has served more than 100 interns and contributed more than 10,000 volunteer service hours. Several graduates have gone on to build long-term careers at Memorial.

The program’s outcomes are significant. While students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) face unemployment rates of about 85%, Project SEARCH reports that 75% of its graduates go on to find employment. Employers gain dependable workers, while participants gain greater independence and employment opportunities, creating benefits throughout the community.

“Project SEARCH creates benefits that reach well beyond its interns,” Trish said. “Through the collective efforts of its partners, the program strengthens connections, enriches experiences and leaves mentors, staff, patients and visitors better for having been part of it.”

Giving back to the hospital that helped him thrive

Romie Granger prepares bacon for cooking in the Memorial Hospital kitchen in 2026.

During his year with Project SEARCH, Romie completed multiple rotations in Memorial Hospital’s kitchen. “I worked doing dishes. I stocked from the truck. Sometimes I got to do food prep,” Romie said. Staff members watched him grow more confident with each rotation as he learned new skills and took on additional responsibilities.

From day one, Romie connected with Rodney Tyler, Nutritional Order/Issuing & Receiving Clerk. As a long-time Beacon employee at Memorial Hospital, Rodney has helped mentor the Project SEARCH interns.

“Rodney is a cool guy,” Romie said. “I like working in a team environment. I always liked working beside Rodney. He kept the work fun.”

With each new intern, staff at Memorial Hospital are sharpening their own skills. When they train an intern, they reinforce the established processes that keep patient care safe by explaining what they do, why they do it and how the process stays on track. Gail Weismann, Director of Nutrition with Beacon Health System, says it also motivates the staff when interns bring freshness and energy.

“Romie was a special student,” Gail said. “He learned quickly, was very dedicated and always had a willingness to help.”

The impact goes both ways. Interns gain skills, confidence and real-world experience, while staff members find purpose in helping them succeed. “It’s heartwarming to see our employees go above and beyond to help the students,” Gail said. “It’s been a win-win. We get as much as we give.”

Ready for what’s next

Today, Romie is a proud 2026 graduate looking for employment. He’s interested in food service, retail, hospitality and hospital support services. Romie has a long-term goal of opening a candy shop with his sisters, combining his love of candy and passion for salesmanship. Dominique hopes the internship experience will be one more step toward the independence she has always envisioned for her son.

“I wanted him to live as normal a life as possible,” she said. “Project SEARCH helped build that independence and that courage. It helped prepare him for what’s next.”

And for a young man who began life fighting to survive, working in the hospital that once cared for him feels fitting. “It’s a full-circle moment,” Dominique said. “I always wanted the people who helped save him to see who he became and where he is going.”