A Second Update and Awareness

Micro Preemie Updates

Thank you for helping me spread Premature Birth Awareness by stopping by yesterday to read about our Micro Preemie updates. Why is awareness so important? With awareness comes understanding and compassion for those of us who have experienced a premature birth. Awareness also brings a spotlight on the cause, which can lead to more research and funding to find solutions to premature birth. It’s all about saving the smallest and sickest babies. Medicine has come very far, but there’s so much more that needs to be done.

With that in mind, let’s catch up with  a few more of our Micro Preemies. Even though we’ve met these families more recently, there’s still a lot of great, new things happening. I’m so happy to share all of their beautiful faces with you again.

Let’s get started!

Annie

Annie was born at just 24 weeks, weighing 394 grams, which is less than a pound. When we met Annie, she  had just turned 14 in June. She was free from all tubes, and only needed Oxygen occasionally, like after she’d been cheerleading for over 10 minutes.

Annie was recently diagnosed with moderately severe asthma, but that doesn’t stop her! She still even plays the flute. She also got to meet Country Artist Big Smo recently. Her Mom, Rosie, told me the two hit it off and even compared scars. Annie is 14-years-old, is 4 foot 5 inches, and weighs 74 pounds.

Killian

Killian was born at 28 weeks, weighing just 1 lb 3 oz. We met Killian at 23 months. He was a healthy, active toddler, but still had some oral aversions, so used a G-tube to eat.

From his Mom, Bethany, He is doing really well. Eating is still our biggest challenge, but it comes along slowly. He was over 27 lbs at his last doctor visit and 31 inches long. He is wild and crazy. He loves to run around and play outside. His most recent favorite thing is to headbutt people (I’m not a fan!), but he also gives lots of hugs and kisses. He got to see his first fireworks show and said “boom”. He turned 2 in October and we’re so proud of how far he’s come in the last 2 years!

Henry

Henry was born at 25 weeks 6 days, weighing 1 lb 13 oz. Henry was just about to turn 6-months-old, when we met him. He was on Oxygen for 12 hours a day, but very strong.

From his Mom, Amber, Henry is 15 lbs now and 11 months old, he was Super Man for Halloween. He is a very active little boy. He started to crawl at 10 months . He is now pulling to a stand on anything he can. I think my favorite part is his big sister is only 23 lbs. I am pretty sure that he is going to be bigger than her soon. He has been off oxygen since July. He loves to be outside. He has 2 teeth.

Dayne

Dayne was born at 23 weeks, 3 days, weighing 1 lb 4 oz. When we met Dayne, he was about to turn 8-years-old, and had no lasting effects from his prematurity with the exception of wearing glasses.

From his Mom, Dawn, We celebrated Dayne’s 8th birthday Oct 27! He now weighs 62 lbs & is 49¾ in tall, a long way from 1 lb 4 oz & 11 in at birth! Had parent teacher conferences last week & he is in the top of his 2nd grade class for reading & math, very top for reading!

Zander

Zander was born at 27 weeks, weighing only 15 oz. We met Zander at 14 months old. He was in Physical Therapy, and had first come home on Oxygen and an NG Feeding Tube, but had been tube free for a month!

Zander is now sitting on his own and standing with support. He’s 15 months old (12 adjusted) and weighs 13 lbs.

Nera

Nera was the youngest baby ever born in Croatia at 22 weeks, 4 days, weighing 1.45 lbs. When we met Nera, she was 2 and 1/2 years old, and doing great! She was really healthy, walking, and talking.

Nera is still doing great, and she just got her very own cat. From her Mom, Sonya, First time that she saw him she said: “Oh hi horse!” And after that day the cat’s name is Horse, and she loves him.

Lucky Ball

Lucky was born at 24 weeks, 4 days, weighing 1 lb 11 oz. We just met Lucky during last week Micro Preemie Monday, but I wanted to share an update from his Facebook Page,

Lucky is 78 days old and 35 weeks 5 days gestation. Lucky’s eye exam went well. No changes. He had a great day and a great night. Lucky took his whole bottle and was wide awake for our visit. He’s getting bigger and stronger everyday. Stay Lucky Strong.

Thank you!

Thank you again to all the families featured today, including Rosie, Bethany, Amber, Dawn, Katrina, Sonja, and Holly. A huge thank you to all the families that have shared their stories with me and all of you in order to help raise awareness to premature birth. I have a lot more stories to share with you, so I hope you’ll keep coming back.

Please share this post, or any Micro Preemie Monday post, and help me raise awareness for Premature Birth. If you take a picture of yourself or your kids in Purple, please post them to my Facebook Page or email them to shanneva@yahoo.com with the subject Purple for Preemies. I will be sharing a collage on November 17th, World Prematurity Day.