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| photos courtesy of family |
| Columbus...A Mother Speaks |
| I had a preemie baby on May 23, 34 weeks gestation, though I went into labor at 19.5 weeks. He had to spend a long 2 and a half weeks in the hospital. I had been on bedrest and medication for 4 months to prevent problems with my angel, but the time came where it was safer for him outside than inside me. In the hospital, he had a beautiful brightly colored quilt, with Noah's Ark animals over it. When he graduated to his "big boy" open crib, that was the quilt that kept him warm. While my husband and I were not faced with financial difficulties and he did have clothes of his own, it was a very touching thing for us to have a gift, made by a stranger who was also helping us to pray that our son was strong and healthy and could come home with us as soon as possible. Even for those who are not financially needy, please know that -every- mother and father in the NICU is emotionally needy, and the simple gesture of having a sleeper tucked away in the drawer, before he could wear clothes, before mommy and daddy could think about going shopping, just a gentle reminder that he would become big and strong enough to be dressed; he wouldn't always be on a ventilator, naked except for his diaper and wires and tubes on a warming bed is a very healing thought. The thought that someone has faith that your baby will survive this with flying colors. What he received from your organization was not a sleeper or a quilt, it was a prayer and assurance that he would be big enough and healthy enough to use those things. Thank you so much for that prayer. |
| ...printed with permission from author... |
| UPDATE - Sep 2003 |
| My little boy Declan's story is on your website and I was visiting today, because a friend of my husband's from work just recently lost a child who was born at 26 weeks. :( They requested that donations be made in the name of their son to your organization, and when I heard the name, a lot of memories were stirred for me. I went to the photo pages and cried a little as I saw my little boy when he was born and remembered how sick he was at first, and moreso when I found the story of the woman I'd become friends with on bedrest, to see her boys up there and doing well. It motivated me to send you another picture and give an update. Declan is now 3 1/2. He has a little sister that just turned 1 last week. She was also preterm but much healthier than he was and was only in the NICU for 24 hours. Declan now has mild asthma and a language delay he's overcoming, but is doing wonderfully. He goes to preschool 4 days a week and loves it there! He still is a little smaller than other kids his age, but not much! Most people would never believe he was a sick little boy when he was born! Now he is a fearless bundle of energy and love. There's nothing in the world that he loves better than "nuggling" with mommy, daddy and sissy. I just wanted to thank you again and give an update to our happy story! Thank you! Susan |
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| photos courtesy of family |
