Current age: 3 yearsWhy Should Your Child Be Recognized as Preemie of the Year?
The smaller the package the better the goods….
Using Three Or More Characteristics of a Super Hero, Please Describe Your Child.
Compassionate, gentle and radiant
What advice do you have for future NICU parents?
Stay strong!
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...]
Maliyah M. ~ Super Hero Alias: Mia MaliyahAge: 15 months
Weight at Birth: 1 pounds 14 ounces
Weeks Gestation: 26 weeks
Time in the NICU: 85 days
Diagnosis, complications, surgeries?
Three blood transfusions.
Why should your child be recognized as “Preemie of the Year”?
My daughter was born at 1 pound 14 oz and 13-3/4 inches long. She was so tiny, it was crazy. She has no major complications. She was breathing on her own. She was only on oxygen for about 1-1/2 months. Her heart, her brain and everything else was perfectly fine. The doctors were amazed that everything was fine internally. She never had surgeries or any setbacks. I was truly blessed with an angel. She’s amazing! [Read more...]
Age: 12 weeks
Weight at Birth: 4 lbs, 2 ounces
Weeks Gestation: 31 weeks, 4 days
Time in the NICU: 30 days
Diagnosis, complications, surgeries?
She suffered from NEC after 2 weeks in the NICU, and also has a heart murmur caused by PPV and PFO.
Why should your child be recognized as “Preemie of the Year”?
Lauren has shown an amazing strength and perseverance since the day she arrived. She conquered a month-long stay in the NICU, including overcoming NEC with flying colors. She is on her way to being the ultimate overachiever, not letting anything get her in way of enjoying life to the fullest. Her smile lights up the room, and she has brought incredible joy and love to our family. She is my inspiration, and has proven to me time and again what a miracle she truly is. I have a feeling she will be giving her big brother, Harrison, a run for his money in no time!
[Read more...]
Age: 3 years
Weight at Birth: 2 lbs, 2 ounces
Weeks Gestation: 26 weeks
Time in the NICU: 70 days
Diagnosis, complications, surgeries?
severe acid reflux, broviac surgery, and NEC
Why should your child be recognized as “Preemie of the Year”?
He came out fighting all 2 pounds of him ready to take on the world (a little bit of Napoleon Syndrome perhaps?). Upon coming into the world at 3:14 am, he made his presence known. He took in a deep gulp of air, filled his lungs to the brim and wailed. I was able to get a quick glance of him before he was whisked away, intubated twice (he ripped the first one out) and hurried to the nicu fighting doctors off all the way. In that quick glance, I knew he would make it. I saw so much fight and passion all wrapped up in one frail small package. Once in the NICU, he continued to fight the doctor’s diagnosis, the odds and the nurses trying to swaddle him (he is still a little claustrophobic). After 70 days, a tough bout with NEC and a Broviac surgery, he came home. Now why should my son out of all be chosen out of all these little miracles to be “Preemie of the Year”? He is a fighter just like all other preemies. He has a lust for life just like all other preemies. But he approaches life with such moxie, such fearlessness that even I sometimes envy his bravery sometimes and his unwavering determination to do things his own way. He is a Lion Heart through and through!
Age: 4 years
Weight at Birth:
Weeks Gestation: 33 weeks
Time in the NICU: 14 days
Why should your child be recognized as “Preemie of the Year”?
Her twin brother’s water broke so she had no choice to be born. She was not ready–she had no surfactant to keep her lungs working. After spending her first 24 hours in an oxygen tent, she was put on a respirator/ventilator for 3 days. They shut down her digestive system so her body could concentrate on healing her lungs. She received 2 doses of surfactant and finally started responding after a few days. If she had needed a 3rd dose they would have had to send her to the children’s hospital and things could have been much worse. After much pleading from mom and dad she decided to kick it into gear and respond to the medications. Since then she has proven herself to be a fighter. She has a strong will which I believe has helped her past any preemie delays she’s encountered. She is willing to try things over and over until she gets it right. Seeing this willfulness still there at 4 years old, I have no doubt she will grow up to do great things.
Age: 4-1/2 months
Weight at Birth: 3 lbs 7 oz
Weeks Gestation: 32 weeks
Time in the NICU: 29 days
Why should your child be recognized as “Preemie of the Year”?
Mariah should be Preemie of the Year because she has the strength and heart of a little Wonder Women. She had the determination to fight for her life while still in the womb and hang on 3 more weeks to give herself a better chance of survival. She only weighed 3 pounds at birth but, she fought to grow stronger so she could come home to her family who loves her.
Age: 7 years
Weight at Birth: 1 lb 15 oz each
Weeks Gestation: 26 weeks 5 days
Time in the NICU: 97 and 98 days
Diagnosis, complications, surgeries?
Reagon: grade 3 bleeds (IVH) in both sides of brain, PIE, multiple blood transfusions, constant As and Bs, PDA.
Ikey: mild ROP, bilateral inguinal hernia repair, multiple blood transfusions, constant As and Bs, PDA.
Why should your children be recognized as “Preemies of the Year”?
These little boys were not supposed to do as well as they have. I had been in the hospital for the week before they were born being treated with magnesium sulfate to stop the labor. Contractions subsided, so I was discharged on a Thursday morning. I went home on strict bedrest (had already been on bedrest since 24 weeks.) Four hours later, with severe pain, my husband rushed me to the hospital, 10 cm on arrival, and within 21 minutes, Ikey and Reagon were born by emergency c-section. They had an extremely rough start, and several weeks of the unknown. Here are a couple of things they endured while in the hospital.
Doctors had to work to collapse Reagon’s lung to hopefully relieve him of all of the pockets of fluid in it (PIE), at the same time as watching his grade 3 bleeds in his brain. He endured so many As and Bs in the hospital, that there were not even spots in the chart to record them all. He was finally discharged from the NICU after three months, only to stop breathing in my arms at home two days later. He had an undiagnosed UTI and was septic. He was rushed to Children’s, which was at Brack at the time, and was revived. He was a very sick little baby. Now, he is a robust 52 pound 7 year old second grader, who plays tennis, baseball, football and rides his bike to school.
Ikey endured multiple blood transfusions. When we would arrive at the NICU to visit the babies, Ikey would be a dark red color, and we knew he had received more blood that day. He had more than his brother. He had minor ROP, and during his last week in the NICU, when he was stable enough, he had bilateral inguinal hernia repair. He, too, had constant As and Bs during his stay. He now is a whopping 49 pound 7 year old second grader. He is also very active and loves all sports.
When the boys were admitted to the NICU, they were put in the far back corner of bay 6. They stayed in that spot for two and a half months. They were never feeders and growers. They were just trying to breathe. They are both amazing, smart, humorous, athletic and just wonderful. They love to play sports with their big brother Walker (35 weeker) and their friends. They are just a delight to be around.
Why should these little boys be recognized as “Preemies of the Year”? Well, they are just remarkable little boys who have been through far more than most people will ever go through in their entire lives. And, thanks to the fantastic doctors and nurses at the Seton NICU, they are here with us today and could not be doing better!
Age: 3 years
Weight at Birth: 1 lb 4 oz
Weeks Gestation: 24 weeks
Time in the NICU: 101 days
Diagnosis, complications, surgeries?
Ava’s mommy had severe pre-eclampsia and Ava had to greet the world a little bit earlier than was planned. When Ava was just a couple of days old, she had to have PDA surgery on her heart, but she did great and recovered quickly. We were very fortunate that this was the only “major” surgery Ava had while in the NICU. Thankfully Ava didn’t have very many complications. Mainly just trying to get her oxygen levels stabilized to bring her home.
Why should your child be recognized as “Preemie of the Year”?
Ava’s motto has always been “I may be tiny, but I’m strong!”. And this motto has held true from the day she was born. She came out fighting the moment she came out of my womb, even though she was a micro-preemie. Looking and listening to Ava, you would never know she started out life way before she was supposed to. Ava Bean is our Superhero because she has shown us that no matter how you started your life, it is how you live it. She may only be three, but that girl has more life in her than anyone I know. She lives it fully and with such fervor. She has never let any setbacks keep her down. Ava dances her way through life, always with a smile on her face.
Age: 3 weeks
Weight at Birth: 3 lbs 2 oz
Weeks Gestation: 30 weeks
Time in the NICU: 3 weeks and still attending
Diagnosis, complications, surgeries?
Mother had preeclampsia and baby was endangered.
Why should your child be recognized as “Preemie of the Year”?
The main reason I believe that Georgie should be preemie of the year is because he has overcome so much in so little time. He was breathing on his own in a matter of a week. He shocked me in so many ways. As time went on and every time I go and visit that boy brings joy to my eyes. He is very strong for a preemie. He amazingly let go of an IV in his leg in a couple of days. Because he is such a strong boy, he learned to eat more and more. At the moment we are just waiting for that boy to learn to eat from his bottle….it will only be a matter of time before he is a pro at it. I have so much faith that he is going to overcome this timing. He is quite the miracle that I imagined. He is dearly loved by many and the more that people give their thoughts and prayers to these little miracles, they will only show happiness and bring a smile to people’s faces. As much as I wish he was home with family I know that he is 100% safe where he is and one day he will look back and be amazed at his accomplishments.
Preemie Power was created by Hand to Hold to recognize and honor all of the preemies who have struggled to overcome great odds. We've seen our tiny super heroes battle and overcome villains, such as birth defects, lung disease and infections. Originally launched with the participants of the inaugural Preemie Power Photo/Essay Contest in 2010, this blog chronicles each amazing child's story and journey. We plan to continue adding to the blog each year with stories submitted in the yearly photo contest, to spread hope and inspiration to other families.
Hailey B. ~ Super Hero Alias: Radiant Hailey Joy Age: 2 years Weight at birth: 1lb 8 ozs Weeks gestation: 29 weeks, 6 days Time in the NICU: 114 days Diagnosis, complications, surgeries? I had a very sudden onset of severe pre-eclampsia. There was a very big possibility that I was not going to make it…. [Continue Reading]
Site last updated May 15, 2013 @ 3:17 pm
