Yara F. ~ Super Hero Alias: Wild Woman Yara
Age: 6 years
Weight at Birth: 2 lbs, 3 oz
Weeks Gestation: 34 weeks
Time in the NICU: 7 weeks
Diagnosis, complications, surgeries?
Yara was IUGR and only grew to 29.5 weeks in utero. She had PDA surgery two days after her delivery and then spent time in the NICU working on building up her weight and getting her gastrointestinal system to work correctly.
Why should your child be recognized as “Preemie of the Year”?
Because you would never know that Yara was a preemie! As they say, dynamite comes in small packages, and this little peanut is just that. She showed the world from the moment that she came into it that she was loaded and ready to go. The nurses at St. David’s dubbed her “Wild Woman Yara” early on because of her spunk and fearless attitude. She would use those strong lungs of hers to get their attention and it worked so well that she was given her own private room in the NICU. She has grown up to be a very precocious and life loving little girl who believed she could fly when she was three so she jumped off of a playscape and broke her wrist, thinking she was a superhero. She is the life of a party and is a great testament that preemies can conquer the greatest challenges and not just survive but THRIVE!
Using three or more typical characteristics of a Super Hero, please describe your child.
Yara is incredibly brave. When she broke her wrist at 3, she barely complained and went the whole day at preschool with the injury until her father picked her up. The caregivers never knew how bad it was because she didn’t make a fuss about it. Most recently, she showed incredible compassion when I slipped and fell coming out of the shower and gashed my leg, with blood everywhere, she came running to me, and took in a deep breath, then began to say a prayer. She was a great little nurse for her mommy. Lastly, she has a can-do attitude and is tenacious! She will spend hours trying to perfect her latest dance moves or artwork because she is dedicated to excellence.
What advice do you have for future NICU parents?
Keep the faith and seek out others who have gone through or are going through the same situation.
What kind of support would have helped you most during your journey?
Information about the challenges preemies face in the immediate and longer-term (behavioral).
