Smaller and Stronger
Today’s Micro Preemie was the size of a 19 weeker when she was born. This is significantly smaller than a baby normally born at 25 weeks. Because of this, doctors did not think she would survive. However, in addition to being smaller, she was definitely stronger than they anticipated.
I’m so happy to be able to bring you, Naomi, today’s Micro Preemie Miracle, and her story, as told by her mom, Angela.
Naomi
1.Tell us about your baby.
Our daughter Naomi was born on July 1st, 2015 by emergency c-section. At birth, she was 12.86 ounces. Her chances of survival were slim. Our NICU managed to squeeze a breathing tube down her throat and she made it out of the delivery alive, something none of us had anticipated. The journey over the next few months was incredibly hard. Many days we wondered if she would live or die, but she slowly but surely overcame all obstacles her prematurity threw at her. She slowly gained weight, had multiple surgeries, recovered from a fracture, and started blooming. Naomi has been home for just over 100 days. She is happy and thriving, with a few health issues which are very manageable.
2.How long was your nicu stay? What was the hardest part?
142 days.
Leaving my son at home and my daughter at the hospital was the hardest part. I would cry on the way to hospital, and I would cry leaving hospital. It felt abnormal to have to say goodbye to one of your children every day.
3.Do you know what caused your premature birth
A condition called IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction) and I had severe form of preeclampsia called HELLP syndrome. The day I went for my emergecy c-section she was struggling to stay alive. Her heart rate was dropping drastically. In addition my preeclampsia was heading towards critical.
4.How are you and your baby doing now?
Good! She’s a delight. We are slowly crossing off doctors appointments of our list. There are so many! We just had her heart checked last week and the cardiologist told us to “never come back” she has a perfect heart. Naomi is still on oxygen due to chronic lung disease and we live at high altitude in the Sierra mountains. We estimate another six weeks before we can bid farewell to the cannula and “the tank” as we call it. Tank has been our fifth family member! She’s an easy happy baby. I struggled with isolation the first few months at home due to lock down over flu and rsv season but as the weather slowly turns I look forward to getting outside with my kiddos.
5.Do you have any advice for new parents?
If people want to help, let them. We had to swallow our pride that we could do it all. It felt like we had friends and strangers carrying us through our nicu journey. Let them. It makes life so much easier when dinner is waiting for you, or a babysitter is lined up for you child, in addition you feel loved by so many during a traumatic season in life.
Thank you so much to Angela for sharing precious Naomi with us. It’s so wonderful to hear how she’s doing now. I remember that first winter of isolation well, but you’ve almost made it through, so just hang in there.
Please send any encouragement and well wishes to Angela, Naomi, and the rest of the family in the comments below.
Oh wow! A miracle! Angela this is such and inspiring story and Naomi is so gorgeous! Thank you so much Shann Eva for sharing!
She is truly a remarkable and adorable little fighter. Such an AMAZING story. Thanks for sharing <3
Such a beautiful story! I also have a 25 weeker, Isabella Grace ♡ she was 1 lb 5.5 oz at birth, size of a 23-24 weeker but wow the size of a 19 weeker, truly amazing! I also had her the same reason as you, she was in distress having heart decels and I had severe pre eclampsia and was close to HELLP syndrome! (She will now be 3 years old in exactly a month and has no lasting effects of her prematurity) But wow, only 12.86 ounces, I can’t imagine! My baby girl was 1 lb 4 oz at her smallest (average size of a 23 weeker)…. what a ☆miracle☆ Naomi is though!! 🙂 btw I love her name! Thanks so much for sharing your amazing story with us! 🙂 ♡
Love your preemie stories! Naomi sounds like quite the fighter!
What a cutie. and the strength a person can endure.
Aw, what a sweetheart! So happy for them that everything turned out so great! Look at her, such a cutie! I can only imagine how hard it must have been, especially being a mom of 2 and having to care for them at 2 different locations! Awesome! xxx
Awwww what an inspiration little Naomi is! She is such a little angel! God bless to her and her family! Beautiful post! Thanks for sharing 🙂
What a cutie! Kiddos to her parents for being so strong! So glad to see she is doing well.
Awwwwww what an inspiration!!! So glad Naomi is doing great these days 🙂
What a beautiful girl! My dear very close friends son was born at 26 weeks. It was a long battle but he recently turned two. It’s so amazing these little thrivers. Your story is such an inspiration. Thank you!
Naomi is such an absolutely beautiful baby–strong and beautiful, just like her Mama! Thanks for sharing your inspiring story. Naomi, you’re gonna move mountains!
Oh my, that last glorious pic shows so much promise! What a beautiul miracle you have there!
What a sweetheart. That face! You would never know she had been through so much. Incredible.
Thank you so much for sharing the story of that cutie with us. She is sure a fighter
What a precious little girl. I can’t imagine what 142 in the NICU as new parents must have been life. You are one strong family!
I LOVE THIS! What a precious little one. Thank you so much for sharing. Such a beautiful miracle. I really love your micro-preemie series, Shann!
May God bless this family. Naomi is so beautiful. God is good, what a miracle. 🙂
OMG OMG OMG OMG!! This is incredible and I am THRILLED that there was a HAPPY outcome to it all! She’s ADORABLE!
Wow, I cannot imagine going through something like that. You have to possess a special kind of strength. She is just beautiful and looks like she is thriving!
Oh my goodness, what an amazing and beautiful little girl. Thanks for sharing this with us Angela and Shann. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to have to leave one of your children every day like that. I’m so glad that things are doing so much better for your family. What a blessing little Naomi is!
Oh my gosh. That little doll is adorable! So glad to hear a success story like this one 🙂
Love this! You’re journey sounds so close to ours. I’ve was blessed with a 23 weeker that was slightly bigger than your little one (450 grams). He had IUGR, I had extreme preeclampsia & HELLP. We had a 140 day NICU stay. My little one is doing well also and starting the transition off “the tank” and his g-tube. Hearing your story and how wonderful Naomi is doing blesses my heart. These little miracles light up our lives. Wishing you all the best! She’s just beautiful!
So glad to hear your little one is doing well too, Shelly 🙂
25 weeks, oh my goodness. So small and precious. <3
Just gives me so much encouragement I had a set of twins and one of them was born at 12 oz at 25 weeks
Your story is beautiful. In 1975 I had a 28 week preemie, there was nothing they could do to save Rachelle Dawn. She only lived 9 hours.
Margee, I am so sorry for your loss. What a beautiful name for your daughter.