Hand to Hold, a 501c3 nonprofit, provides comprehensive navigation resources and support programs to parents of preemies, babies born with special health care needs and those who have experienced a loss due to these or other complications. Read more about Hand to Hold.
Age: 2 years old
Weight at Birth: 1 pound 9 ounces
Weeks Gestation: 25 weeks
Time in the NICU: 96 days
Diagnosis, complications, surgeries?
Evan and his identical twin Aaden (deceased) were diagnosed at 17 weeks gestation with Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome. On his third day of life, Evan’s bowel ruptured and they had to put a pembrose tube in his side for drainage, if they hadn’t acted quickly, he could have lost his life.
Why should your child be recognized as “Preemie of the Year”?
Evan has overcome battles both in and out of utero. Early in my first trimester, Evan and his identical twin Aaden were diagnosed with Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome. We were told that if we didn’t act fast, I would lose them both. I ended up going in for laser treatment surgery. That was a success 
However, the muscles around Evan’s heart were “suffocating” his heart, which could have been fatal. I had to take blood pressure meds to decrease the muscles, which worked and it looked like it was working for him. Evan was born via emergency c-section at 25.5 weeks gestation. He weighed 1 pound 9 ounces, and was only 13.25 inches long. He was so tiny, but so strong. His brother didn’t make it 
On his third day of life, Evan’s bowel ruptured, which could have been fatal if the doctors hadn’t acted fast. They put in a pembrose tube in his side to drain his bowels. This meant he was unable to eat. He remained in the hospital for 96 days before he could come home. (We thank his guardian angel and brother, Aaden for that) Now, at 2 years old, he is extremely smart and has the best personality. He is short, and very skinny, but coming almost 4 months early into this world, who could blame him? Evan is proof that miracles really do and can happen! [Read more...]
October is National Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month. 78 infants are lost each day in the U.S. — 2,474 babies in Texas each year.We were so excited to give our two-year old daughter Camryn a sibling so imagine our shock and joy when we found out we were having twins!
For 4 months the pregnancy progressed normally. We found out they were boys and identical. We started on their nursery; painting it blue, buying the furniture, the bedding, and even several matching outfits.
At around 20 weeks I had tremendous pain and swelling in my belly. My husband took me to the emergency room and the ultrasound revealed that I had excess fluid in the sac where the boys were growing. A specialist would see me the following Monday but that appointment never came.
In the middle of the night I had a “rolling” feeling. “There is no way this could be labor”, I thought. I was only 22 weeks and 5 days along. We sped to the hospital, running red lights and all.
Site last updated May 21, 2013 @ 9:13 pm
