Happy World Prematurity Day!

From the March Of Dimes website:

• In the United States, 1 in 8 babies is born prematurely.
• Worldwide, 13 million babies are born too soon each year.
• We’re working to address the crisis at home and abroad.

“Honor the million babies worldwide who died this year because they were born too soon, and the 12 million more who struggle to survive. November 17 is World Prematurity Day and when we focus everyone’s attention on the serious problem of premature birth.

“Like” World Prematurity Day on Facebook. Read stories from around the world and share your own. Help spread the word by updating your Facebook status with a message on premature birth. Together we can raise awareness of this serious problem and help more babies start healthy lives.”

So here’s my preemie. My survivor. Daddy’s Little Hero. Princess Chub Chub of The Sunshine Brigade. She’s the most amazing little thing, and today she is exactly one month away from being one year corrected.

This preemie decided that the last trimester should be spent on the outside, and then spent 222 days on the inside..

This preemie has had a scalp IV but her double whorls will ensure that no one will ever see the small cescent scar. Only 5% of people are born with a double hair whorl.

This preemie is a puller. She started with her umbilical cord and has continued to pull on anything she can wrap her fingers around since. Intubation tubes, oxygen lines, satprobe plugs, vital stats leads, CPAP hoses, feeding tubes, venting chambers, nasal prongs, oxygen tank keychains, necklaces, Mum's hair, Dad's nostrils...you get the idea.

This preemie had three blood transfusions and relied on the generous donations from people just like you. Thank you for donating, your gift saves lives.

This preemie was once receiving 100% oxygen from a ventilator and the doctors told us there was nothing else they could do. It was all up to her to pull through.

This preemie was fed through a feeding tube down her throat at first, an OG. She kept gagging it out though, so they ran it through her nose, an NG. Then she got her G-tube, a direct port to the stomach. Now she has a G-GJ-tube, which has adds the intestinal connection feature to the G-tube. The G-GJ also comes with a bile bag accessory, which is a lot of fun right there.

This preemie LOVES books.

This preemie once held the only patient room in the whole NICU that had a window directly to the outside. That was the first time she saw snow. She has yet to feel it for herself.

This preemie has an infectious laugh.

This preemie had to wait a week before getting held by Mum for the first time, and two weeks for Dad! Still about 10 weeks earlier than most babies get to meet their parents though...

This preemie has her own website, facebook account, and gmail address.

This preemie had a PICC line that ran from her left wrist, up her arm and into her heart. The inserted line was about 6" long.

This preemie has one tooth. It broke through a couple weeks ago, and is still a lone soldier.

This preemie has dodged a lot of bullets. Of all the things that could have gone wrong, we've had a lot go right (it just took a little longer). We consider ourselves to be among the luckiest of NICU survivors.

This preemie weighed 2.5lbs at birth. She now weighs 20lbs.

This preemie has BPD, bronchopulmonary dysplasia. It's a chronic lung disease that she will grow out of, eventually.

This preemie can clap her hands, reach for the stars, usually wave hello or goodbye, and sometimes she'll high five.

This preemie is Nyana Rose Brackett, Royal Princess of The Sunshine Brigade...and she's absolutely perfect.