Household hopes Cincinnati Zoo names soon-to-be-born child sloth after their late son

In early 2021, a young boy who spent months at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital died and touched the hearts of many. Alyssa Nicholson and her family created a petition on change.org entitled “Name the baby sloth after Oliver”. In describing the petition, Nicholson described her son Oliver’s journey. Oliver and his twin brother Atticus were born on October 11, 2019. You were born seven weeks early. Oliver was born with one hand and a total of three fingers. He also had pig bronchus, long-gap TEF, right aortic arch heart, a kidney, narrow airways, and a few other minor issues. Nicholson said she and her family learned that Oliver had VACTERL association, a disorder that affects many body systems. The baby spent five months in the neonatal intensive care unit at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Oliver came home after two failed attempts to connect his esophagus to his stomach. According to Nicholson, once Oliver got home, he was able to achieve the same milestones as his twin, including learning to sit up, slide around, and stand. His mother said he almost walked. “(He) was the happiest boy you have ever met,” wrote Nicholson on the petition. Although Oliver’s vocal cords were paralyzed, the child was a fighter and learned to say “hello”, “dad” and “mom”. On January 11, 2021, Oliver had an operation to connect his esophagus to his stomach. While the child was recovering, they were given a soft sloth toy. Nicholson said Oliver “adored” the stuffed animal and slept with it every night. Oliver also had a “hang in her” sloth balloon that hung in his hotel room. Oliver was finally able to return home. However, about a month later, Oliver went to a routine procedure to check his esophagus. While sleeping and under anesthesia, Nicholson said there were complications that resulted in bleeding around his heart. Oliver was unable to recover from the bleeding. Oliver died that evening on February 17th. Days later when Oliver was visiting, Nicholson said people came to the family to tell them that a sloth was pregnant at the Cincinnati Zoo. Lots of people said it was a sign and suggested that we collect a petition to name the new baby sloth after Oliver. Oliver’s family learned that the pregnant sloth Lightning was a two-toed sloth that in some ways resembled Oliver’s two-fingered hand. “We had his ‘hang in there’ balloon over him and we buried him with a lovely sloth. We still have his favorite -Stuffed animal sloth with us and it reminds us that he’s still here with us, “wrote Nicholson in the petition. So far, the petition has garnered over 40,000 signatures to meet its goal of 50,000 signatures. Click here to sign the petition. Time is running out and the sloth Lightning at the Cincinnati Zoo is about to have a puppy. Cincinnati Zoo officials announced Lightning’s pregnancy in February. Lightning is the living partner of Moe, a longtime resident of the zoo. Moe (21) and Lightning (8) are both two-toed sloths. An ultrasound earlier this year confirmed that Lightning was expecting. Lightning became pregnant in October, and the gestation period for a sloth is around 10 to 11 months. Lightning is expected to give birth to her newborn baby this fall. As with anything sloths do, having a baby takes a long time. This is the first baby sloth for the Cincinnati Zoo. Lightning came to the zoo in 2019 on a breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan’s survival plan. who has been at the zoo since 2006. Moe was orphaned in the wild. And since it comes from the wild, its genetics are very valuable. After 15 years, Moe finally becomes a father. The advertisement took a long time. It wasn’t love at first sight, but the couple warmed up and couldn’t stay 6 feet apart during the COVID-19 pandemic. On July 12, the Cincinnati Zoo announced that the birth guard was on. Starting July 12, volunteers will be watching Lightning on camera overnight to notify their care team if they see any signs of labor. According to the Cincinnati Zoo, Lightning’s keepers have already prepped and baby-safe their habitat. The care team will continue to monitor you Lightning and do regular ultrasound scans throughout pregnancy. WLWT will provide updates once the baby sloth is born.

CINCINNATI –

In early 2021, a young boy who spent months at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital died and touched the hearts of many.

Alyssa Nicholson and her family founded a Petition on change.org called “Name the baby sloth after Oliver.”

In describing the petition, Nicholson described her son Oliver’s journey. Oliver and his twin brother Atticus were born on October 11, 2019. You were born seven weeks early.

Oliver was born with one hand and a total of three fingers. He also had pig bronchus, long-gap TEF, right aortic arch heart, a kidney, narrow airways, and a few other minor issues.

Nicholson said she and her family learned that Oliver suffered from the VACTERL association, a disorder that affects many body systems.

The baby spent five months in the neonatal intensive care unit at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Oliver came home after two failed attempts to connect his esophagus to his stomach.

According to Nicholson, once he got home, Oliver was able to reach the same milestones as his twin, including learning how to sit up, the bum to get around and stand. His mother said he almost walked.

“(He) was the happiest boy you have ever met,” wrote Nicholson on the petition.

Although Oliver’s vocal cords were paralyzed, the child was a fighter and learned to say “hello”, “dad” and “mom”.

On January 11, 2021, Oliver had an operation to connect his esophagus to his stomach. While the child was recovering, they were given a soft sloth toy. Nicholson said Oliver “adored” the stuffed animal and slept with it every night.

Oliver also had a sloth balloon that hung in his hotel room.

Oliver was finally able to return home. However, about a month later, Oliver went to a routine procedure to check his esophagus. While sleeping and under anesthesia, Nicholson said there were complications that resulted in bleeding around his heart. Oliver was unable to recover from the bleeding.

Oliver died that evening on February 17th.

Days later, during Oliver’s visit, Nicholson said people came to the family to tell them that a sloth was pregnant at the Cincinnati Zoo. Lots of people said it was a sign and suggested collecting a petition to name the new baby sloth after Oliver.

Oliver’s family learned that the pregnant sloth Lightning was a two-toed sloth that in some ways resembled Oliver’s hand with two fingers.

“We had his ‘hang in there’ balloon over him and buried him with a cute sloth. We still have his favorite stuffed sloth with us and it reminds us he’s still here with us,” wrote Nicholson in the petition.

So far, the petition has garnered over 40,000 signatures for its goal of 50,000 signatures. Click here to sign the petition.

Time is ticking and the sloth named Lightning at the Cincinnati Zoo is about to have a puppy.

Officials at the Cincinnati Zoo announced Lightning’s pregnancy in February. Lightning is the living partner of Moe, a longtime resident of the zoo.

Moe (21) and Lightning (8) are both two-toed sloths. An ultrasound earlier this year confirmed that Lightning was expecting.

Lightning became pregnant in October, and a sloth’s gestation period is around 10 to 11 months. Lightning is expected to give birth to her newborn baby this fall. Like everything sloths do, having a baby takes a long time.

This is the first baby sloth for the Cincinnati Zoo.

Lightning came to the zoo in 2019 based on a breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for the species survival plan.

She joined Moe, who has been at the zoo since 2006.

Moe was orphaned in the wild. And since it comes from the wild, its genetics are very valuable. After 15 years, Moe finally becomes a father.

The courtship took a long time. It wasn’t love at first sight, but the couple warmed up and couldn’t stay 6 feet apart during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On July 12, the Cincinnati Zoo announced that the birth guard was on. Starting July 12, volunteers will be watching Lightning on camera overnight to notify their care team if they see any signs of labor.

According to the Cincinnati Zoo, Lightning’s keepers have already prepared their habitat and made it baby-safe.

The nursing team will continue to monitor Lightning and will have regular ultrasound scans throughout her pregnancy.

WLWT will provide updates once the baby sloth is born.