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Our son was born at 26 weeks and six days.At first they said he was going to make it because he had a case of dysplasia after being admitted to the hospital because we wanted to be able to hold him if the worst was going to happen.After being in there for three days our son Brayden was born by emergency c-section.He weighed 1lb 5.8oz and was 11 inches long.He came into this world with only a hernia it had turned out that only half my placenta was working and thats why he was so small.He was born on December 9,2001 and is still in the nicu he weighs 3lb and 13.8 grams and is 14 inches long and just twp weeks ago started eating off a bottl.I understand completely what parents fell like having to leave something you werent really even prepared to have yet alone.Since no one can sit there and stare at there child for days on end its hard to know when you go home at night you cant take that precious littlelittle joy home with you. Sometimes it scares me to think of what the future might bring but knowing that ill always have my little miracle with me is all ill ever need.

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My son Parker was born on March 28, 2001 at 31 weeks ges. He weighed 3 lbs. and was 17 inches long. Thanks to the steriods they had given me he was breathing and crying when he was delivered (emergency C-section due to PIH). The next 2 months and 1 day were the longest and hardest days of my life. We encountered a few setbacks and a major infection, we almost lost him. But today I am grateful to say that thanks to the grace of God my little boy who is 10 months (8 months adjusted) has no problems health or developement wise. He is walking and saying Da Da, and weighs a little more than 21 lbs. His doctors are truly amazed at how he has done in these past 10 months.

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Nicolas was born at 28 weeks gestation due to a blockage in his urethra causing kidney failure. He weighed in at 2lbs 13 oz and 15" long. He is now almost 11 months (8 corrected)and weighing 16 lbs and rolling all over the place. He is trying to sit up, loves to coo and be played with. Due to him having to have a feeding tube he is real gaggy and trying to start him on solid foods has been a real challenge as it makes him spit up. We love this little guy madly, but it has been a very rough rode. He was in a NICU 2 1/2 hours away and we have 4 children at home. He spent 10 weeks in the NICU. He did not have ROP or any hearing loss. We were able to get the steroid shots as we planned his delivery by c-section. I feel the shots made a tremendous difference as his outcome in the NICU was far greater than some of the other less fortunate babies. We only had to deal with a couple of pneumothoraxes and he was only on the vent for 2 days. He did have one bad episode of infection due to needing a catheter for his blockage. That required a blood transfusion and a day on the vent, but he was so determined not to be on the vent he extabated himself 4 times before the nursing staff finaly realized HE DID NOT NEED IT!! He is pretty determined.

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I have a little boy who was born at 33 weeks gestation on August 25, 1999. His due date wasnt until the 9th of October, but he had other plans! My OB knew he was going to be early, so I was given 2 steroid shots a week to develop his lungs. I went into early labor on July 7th and was put on magnesium, which stopped the cotractions. From then on I was in and out of the hospital to stop the contractions and put on bedrest. My water broke on August 20 and I remained in the hospital until he was born. Wyatt Daniel came into the world weighing 3 lbs. 13 oz. and 17 in. long. He only had to be in the NICU for 9 days! We were very lucky, them steroid shots did wonders for our son, and it really helped that I had a great doctor. Today, Wyatt is a normal 2 1/2 year old, he was a little slow at some things, but I dont see any of the side effects from being a preemie! He is truly a little miracle! Good luck to all the other preemie families, you will get through all the hard times!

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I have twin boys born 4/20/95 they was 8 weeks early.Seth weighted 4lbs 2oz and Dakota 3lbs 15oz.I had been on bed rest for 10 weeks and at 32 weeks they was born by c_section.They was in NICU for a short time both was home within 2 weeks,but there was still alot of classes that I had to attend before they came home.Both was on Apnea monitors for 6 months .I have been thru hernia surgery,RSV and alot of trip to the hospital for asthma.They are will be 7 this March and doing really good one is still small in size but he is a real handful at times.When they are sleeping at night and I look in to check on them I think what a lucky mother I am to be blessed with not one but two..To other parents with premies hang in there and you too will be blessed with the best gift of life for years to come.