Fighting for Preemies

Our youngest miracle child has brought about so much awareness in my world. Zachary's early birth was scary, to say the least. His 6 week hospital stay was difficult, but all-in-all do-able because we got to bring our little boy home! I can't help but remember the one line I heard over and over again, "wow, how are you doing this, isn't it so difficult?" It was all such a matter of perspective when you are looking at all the babies around you who are in worse shape in the NICU.

I used to be one of the ones who thought that prematurity JUST meant that your baby was small. I have come to learn it is so, so much more than that. Those weeks, even days, can mean so very much to the lifetime of your child. It is all just a matter of "ifs". It can make a difference IF you even bring your baby home. If you bring them home w/ or w/o monitors. IF you make it home by your due date (something that seems impossible to imagine when they are born 2 or 3 months early). IF they have lingering health problems. IF you can have a "normal" life with your little munchkin. IF they can hear. IF you don't go bankrupt in getting them to survive. IF they don't spend the rest of their life with doctor after doctor correcting all the problems that MIGHT go wrong. IF they have developed their lungs enough to participate in sports in the future. IF they are able to be ok with a little help in the beginning, of IF it will be a lifetime of help required.

Thank God our little man is a healthy fighter. Thank God he waited until 31 weeks to be born. Thank God he was able to cry at birth, and only be vented for 48 hours. Thank God he only continued to improve with each new day. Thank God we have him here with us today. Thank God for organizations like March of Dimes!

And, if you want to hear a true post-NICU micro-preemie experience, check out this blog http://themctriplets.blogspot.com/ Reading this, and imagining doing this with 3 babies, wowsa, makes me feel kind of small. Like I said, it's all prespective!

Not every baby is so lucky.........

Do you know a baby that was born too soon, too small, unable to suck, unable to breathe on his own? Premature birth is a health crisis that jeopardizes the lives and health of nearly half-million babies each year. It is the #1 killer of newborns and can lead to lifelong disabilities. Worse: the number has increased 31 percent since 1981. It can happen without warning and for no known reason. Until we have more answers, anyone’s baby, could be born too soon.

Medical advances give even the tiniest babies a chance of survival, yet for many babies premature birth is still a life or death condition. It’s the #1 cause of death during the first month of life. And babies who survive face serious health challenges and risk lifelong disabilities.The rate of premature birth has never been higher. In half the cases, we simply don’t understand what went wrong. We need to fight for answers. And, ultimately, preventions.

In January 1938, President Roosevelt established the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis to save American’s youth from Polio. His premise was that people can solve any problem if they work together. Comedian Eddie Cantor created the first grassroots fund-raiser for the National Foundation, asking the public to send dimes to President Roosevelt at the White House. The effort was called the March of Dimes, which later became part of the official name of the foundation. President Roosevelt created a partnership of volunteers and researchers and within 17 years, the Salk vaccine (named after Jonas Salk, the doctor who developed it) had been developed and polio was on the run. With the approval of the Salk vaccine and resulting eradication of polio, the March of Dimes turned its focus to a new mission to save America’s youth. Since 1958, the March of Dimes has been funding cutting edge research and innovative programs to save babies from birth defects, premature birth and low birthweight.

November 17 is dedicated to raising awareness of the crisis of premature birth. The March of Dimes invites bloggers like you to get involved. • Learn about premature birth at marchofdimes.com/fightforpreemies

Our first glimpse of our little fighter, on CPAP helping him to breathe hours after birth.

The first time I was able to be wheeled down to him and see him more clearly. He is vented here, off CPAP and just after receiving his Surfactant that helped improve his lung quality thanks to March of Dimes.

Our sweet little baby boy on the vent

And thank God he moved on to his nasal cannula that helped him breathe for the next 4 weeks.