Josie H. ~ Super Hero Alias: Jazzin Josie

Age: 2 years, 8 months
Weight at Birth: 1 lb 15 oz
Weeks Gestation: 27 weeks
Time in the NICU: 100 days

Diagnosis, complications, surgeries?

Josie has chronic lung disease, and an immune deficiency. She had surgery in June of 2009 for port placement for her to receive her I.V.I.G and she just had surgery in October of 2011 to remove the port due to complications.

Why should your child be recognized as “Preemie of the Year”?

Josie is our miracle baby! She came into this world fighting and she wasn’t bcking down. She was born at 27 weeks weighing only 1 pound and 15 ounces and was 13 inches long. We were on the NICU rollercoaster for exactly 100 days. In those 100 days we were told many times that we would need to prepare to lose our daughter, but they didn’t know what she was capable of. Josie was breathing on her own when she was born and continued to do so with the assistance of a c-pap machine untill she developed two major lung infections, 4 weeks later that caused her to be placed on the vent for a month and and left the doctors and nurses baffled as to why after a month of the vent and numerous strong antibiotics Josie just could not get rid of these infections. These infections we were told would cost our precious baby girl her life if they could not find out why she was not improving fast! That is when her immune deficiency was discoverd. After several blood transfusions, I.V.I.G, antiobiotics, and patience, Josie finally was off the vent. Now for another bump. Because of the high use of the vent, and the numerous doses of strong antibiotics we were faced with the possibility that Josie may never hear or see. She indeed failed her hearing test and showed stage 2 signs of retinopathy. We had prepared ourselves for the worst with this. How were we going to be able to communicate with our daughter if she could not see or hear us? A couple months later, lo and behold after many many prayers, Josie passed her hearing test and her eye sight had corrected itself. We were elated! Today, Josie is almost 3 years old and preparing for pre-school. She continues to recieve her I.V.I. G. for her immune system and they tell us that this will more than likely be a life long issue.  Other than her small size (26 pounds), you would never know she was a preemie! She is very intelligent and doesn’t miss a beat! We have our miracle baby, and are amazed everyday at how strong she is!
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