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When I became pregnant we were actually surprised. We didn’t think it would happen so fast, but we were so excited, this is what we had prayed for. The pregnancy was pretty much uneventful; I felt good besides being a little tired. I went faithfully to my monthly check ups. At 11 weeks we were able to hear the heartbeat and at 16 weeks an ultrasound told us we were having a BOY - what a surprise! We were so excited, now it was time to start picking out names. On Tuesday, May 8th, 25 weeks into my pregnancy, I went in for a routine check-up and was diagnosed with toxemia. I was immediately hospitalized. I hadn’t felt sick at all, but I had extremely high blood pressure. It was after midnight by the time I arrived at Sutter Memorial by ambulance. The doctors said they would probably have to deliver the baby right away but, to their surprise, we were able to hold out for a couple of weeks. Every day that passed brought more hope for a healthy baby, but still, it was way too early. Eventually the day came when I was too sick to carry him any longer and so on Monday, May 21st our baby boy was born. The days and weeks that followed were the happiest, saddest, scariest, most bittersweet moments Danny & I have ever faced. The following is just a glimpse of our experience: When Adin was first born he was doing considerably well despite his size. He was put on a ventilator to assist his breathing, which was routine for these little ones, but all looked hopeful that he would soon be breathing on his own. He was only 2 days old when the doctor rushed into my hospital room and told me ‘Adin had taken a turn for the worse.’ He had had severe bleeding in his lungs and had lost a lot of blood. At the time, they had been giving him a routine blood transfusion, which they believe saved his life. He was now in very critical condition. This bleeding had caused damage to the lungs, which required him to be on a high frequency ventilator. Two days after that Adin needed heart surgery to repair a valve. The doctors told us he might not make it through the surgery because of the earlier complications. But, he made it. During the weeks that followed Adin had many more blood transfusions, steroids to help his lungs develop, 2 bouts of pneumonia which required antibiotics, numerous pokes and prods to draw blood or start an I.V., many trials of being off the ventilator only to have to be intubated again and eventually, laser eye surgery to repair damage from the excessive oxygen he was on. He had been diagnosed with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (chronic lung disease). Finally on August 4th (2 days after his eye surgery) Adin was able to get off the ventilator and stay off. He still required oxygen through a nasal canula, but this was a huge step. During the days that followed Adin began eating from a bottle and he started progressing very well all around. On August 17th, which was his actual due date, he weighed in at an even 5 lbs. On September 13th, 2 days after the attack on our nation, and nearly 4 months at the NICU Adin got to come home. As I write this he is still on oxygen, and some medications for his lungs, but over all he is doing very well. We are not able to take him where there are crowds of people or around any one who is sick or have been exposed because his immune system is very low. A common cold to us is life threatening to him. So, except for his doctors visits (he has 3 different doctors) we are staying home. Today he weighed in at 9 lbs. 2 oz., not bad since he’s really only supposed to be 2 months old. He’s starting to smile a lot and Danny even heard him giggle the other day. Every child is a miracle from God and Adin is certainly proof that miracles do exist. When I was still in the hospital I remember praying to God, I was crying and I was scared for my baby’s life. God spoke three words to me, he said “trust in Me.” And so I did. I clung to those words; sometimes that was the only hope I had. I knew that I had a choice, I could either worry or I could trust, but I could not do both and so, I chose to trust. Total trust takes a lot of faith, but the reward is total peace. The Bible says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 There were days (usually several times a day) when I had to keep reminding myself to trust in Him, but sometimes that was hard to do because I was surrounded by so much heartache that it was hard to imagine something good coming from all this. Being at the hospital really opened my eyes to the suffering that even little children go through. It was all around me. Some of the children had cancer, one little girl was horribly disfigured since birth, one boy was fighting for his life after being burned in an accident, a teenage girl had lost a leg, there were babies who were in the same room as Adin who did not survive, and even at home, there was the news of a friend who had lost her granddaughter to leukemia. But through the pain there was the joy and hope that comes with new lives being born all around me, one of which was the birth of my cousin’s baby boy. The night before Adin’s eye surgery I was praying for him and I flipped opened my Bible randomly to Matthew 8:7 and read, “And Jesus said to him, ‘I will come and heal him.’ ” And that is exactly what happened. Two days after that when Adin was finally taken off the ventilator he started to improve so quickly that even his doctors and nurses were amazed. The Bible says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God…” Romans 8:28. Despite all that we’ve been through, I’m staying focused on the good things that have happened and am looking forward to seeing more miracles come out of this. One good thing is that it brought Danny and I closer together; it taught us to appreciate each other more and to not take each other for granted. Looking back I know God was carrying us through this. There were so many things that could’ve gone wrong; it’s a miracle we’re even here to tell this story. Along the way we’ve met some wonderful people that I will miss dearly, some I know God placed into our lives for a purpose. It never ceases to amaze me how He works through people. So many, some we don’t even know have helped us in ways I never could’ve imagined. We’ve been through a lot, but it could’ve been worse, I know, because I’ve seen it. I thank God for what we have, my family and friends and for letting me experience the miracle of life. "There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is." -Albert Einstein (fellow preemie) http://www.moodykitty.com/Adin.html

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My daughter, Rachel, was born at 28 weeks and 5 days weighing in at 1 pound and 11 ounces. We were lucky to be in an area with an excellent NICU and the doctors and nurses were more than supportive and helpful. Rachel was born early due to some worsening pregnancy-related health issues that went untreated by my regular OB-GYN. She was born my emergency C-section but was a fighter from day 1. She had slight jaundice, was on a monitor and had a little trouble becoming "regular" (in other words, we had to threaten her with suppositories regularly). She is now a health, active, thriving 8 1/2 month old weighing in at just over 14 pounds. While she did come home on a monitor and we have had some issues with a closed tear duct, she is a pretty, cheerful little girl who I cuddle as much as I can when I think of what might have happened. For those of you in the NICU now, pray and think positive. I look back at pictures of Rachel when she was born and can't believe she is the same little person who wakes up every morning, kicks her mobile on to sing to (in her chirpy bird-like voice) and tries to talk to everyone she comes across.

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Our first daughter was born 9/25/01, 6 weeks early at 4lb. She only spent three weeks in the hospital growing before she came home. She is now a very healthy, active, alomst 4 year old. Our second daughter was born 4/2/05, 13 weeks early at 2lb2oz. She never did need a ventilator and was only on the c-pap for two and half weeks. She had a NEC scare they treated her for around three weeks old and after that she was just a "feeder grower" until 10 weeks when we brought her home. Its been 4 weeks now since we brought her home and shes already gained 2pounds (total 6lb10oz). Shes perfect! Being part of the NBICU family for ten weeks was the hardest thing we have ever been through but it was also one of the best experiences we will ever have! thank you.

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I gave birth to a beautiful premmie boy named Stephen Lewis Smith. Born March 27,2004 He was 3 months early He was 2 pounds 14 1/2 inches long HE was due july 4th 2004. Because of my depression i lost custody of my child. I hpe one day to get him back.

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My son Matthew was born 4/5/03 at 29 weeks. Matt had numerous problems ranging from blood transfusions, jaundice, reflux, desats and bradys, and the list goes on. he is now 2, with a speech delay and infantile scoliosis that is getting worse as the days go bye. He just had an operation on a hernia in his groin and has lazy eye. For the most part, Matt is a happy kid who makes the best out of every day.