Kate H. ~ Super Hero Alias: Charismatic Kate
Age: 4 years
Weight at Birth: 2lbs 1oz
Weeks Gestation: 25 wks, 6 days
Time in the NICU: 59 days
Diagnosis, complications, surgeries?
Multiple blood transfusions, Apnea of prematurity, Bradycardia, PICC line, Reflux, first head scan came back abnormal (second was fine).
Charismatic Kate has defied odds, done it with flair, and taught so many friends & family what can truly be achieved through faith.
Why should your child be recognized as “Preemie of the Year”?
We had never heard (much less known) of anyone giving birth to a baby at 25 weeks gestation but we didn’t tell Kate that. She was delivered without a c-section and needed no resuscitation at birth. She entered the world screaming like Joan Jett and rocked her perfect little 2 pound physique with beautiful dark hair and long, tiny fingernails that could already use their first mani.
As she rolled off to the NICU, we were confident that she had beat the worst case scenario: death. But would she also escape deafness, mental retardation and the other possible scenarios we had read about?
When the head scan, hearing, vision tests all came back normal, she took on villains like anemia, apnea, bradycardia, and reflux.
She formed a Justice League with Nurse Bob and Nurse Linda. She charmed them by accomplishing impossible feats like waiting til their back was turned and moving to the complete opposite side of the isolette when there’s no way her muscles could do that yet!
Unbeknownst to us (her nervous/hypervigilant parents), her justice league saw something special in her and started pushing her ahead of schedule to accomplish the goals necessary to finally come home.
They gave her a chance to sprint on the cannula and she did it! They let her wear clothes weeks early & she regulated her own temperature! They fed her a bottle and she gulped it right down!
Kate and her Justice League converted her October 6th graduation into an August 26th graduation!!!
She had defied the odds and our prayers had all been answered. Thank you, Kate, for your tenacity! Thank you, God, for all of your blessings! And thank you Justice League for your wisdom & strength!
Using three or more typical characteristics of a Super Hero, please describe your child.
How is Kate a super hero?
Kate is cunning. How could we let that small package fool us? Wow!
Kate is exuberant. She was isolated at home for 8 months and we feared that she would have social phobias. She never missed a beat. She’s always been the life of the party and never misses an opportunity to give someone a hug.
Kate has faith. She was born early because her twin brother died in the womb with her when his umbilical cord became tangled. One of our biggest fears is that learning of his death, as she grew up, would impact her in a way that we couldn’t handle/help/comfort. She is four years old now and she prays for him every night now. It’s hard to describe the strength and comfort that she brings to us…
What advice do you have for future NICU parents?
Do not be afraid to ask questions in the NICU. Do not be afraid to ask for resources from friends, family, nurses, and Hand to Hold. Let yourself feel. You do not have to bottle your fears up. You will make it through this experience and the blessings will amaze you.
Describe how Hand to Hold’s services are meaningful to you and future families.
Hand to Hold’s website provides a safe place to find approved information that is accurate and numerous real-life stories of hope from fellow preemie families.
