 |
Tommy's Preemie Web |
 |
|
August and Mid-September Messages...
Dear family of the Boy King: Your story is a wonderful testament of courage, love and hope. My name is Diana and I have a 4 month old baby. He was born on term and he is very healthy. I am also a nursing student from John Abbott College in Quebec, Canada. When I did my practice in pediatrics I spent 2 days in the NICU. It was a wonderful experience and a joy to see the pictures of the babies that had graduated from the unit. I will be graduating next year and I know that I will be a great pediatric nurse! Thank you very much for sharing such a beautiful story. God bless and good luck to all of you! Sincerely, Diana Lobaton-Hamilton
Hi Tommy: I would appreciate it if you could send me any quantitive information about the sense of touch on low birth weigh infants. I am doing a research project for my developmental psychology class and I can use any information regarding this topic.c.c.c. Lisa Sowinski
Hi Tommy: What a wonderful story! It brought tears to my eyes...how very blessed you are. I started bedrest at 25 weeks and now we are at 32 weeks-trying to keep our little bun in the oven as long as possible. What a miracle that you had such a survivor at 25 weeks. I just wanted to let you know how your story touched me! Erin
Hi Tommy: You are so lucky to have such patient parents. Know that they love you very much! I was supposed to have a son around November 12th of this year but I wasn't as lucky as your parents, my son died. I was 17 weeks when he had died. We weren't expecting it, not as if any parent is. My son, Matthew was 2.4 oz. and 5 1\4 in. when he was born. I know what's it's like to look at pictures of small babies. My heart went out for you when I saw your pictures, I am so glad that you are doing _A LOT_ better now. Best wishes for a great future!!! Marsha M. Maurer
Hi Tommy: We are the proud parents of Jaycob Russell; a 3 lb 2 oz 28 weeker. Jaycob has overcome and continues to be confronted with many obstacles. He is now 20 days old and is 3 lb 7 oz.. What do you know about Ampicillin,Gentamicin,Vancomycin and Cefotaxime? How long was Tommy experiencing apnea if at all and did he encounter any Meningitis ?? Cheers from Bill Chas & Jaycob in CANADA
Hi Tommy & Tommy's Parents: I also have a daughter born at 26 weeks gestation on 11/19/94. She stayed in the hospital for 3 months, and came home on her due date (we did not plan this). She is 18 months corrected age and doing very well even though she is still very small. She weights only 17.5 Lb. She is talking in sentences and can sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. I hope you can meet her someday. You and her and others preemies are very special and brave kids. We are very lucky to be your parents. Fenti Lie
Hi Tommy: My husband and I are very proud parents of a preemie. Our daughter, Victoria, was born at 28 weeks gestation, weighing in at 2 pounds 12 ounces. She spent 42 days in the NICU before being discharged. We brought her home one week before Christmas, what a blessing! However, two weeks after Christmas, she developed RSV, a respiratory virus, and stopped breathing. She was rushed to the hospital by ambulance and was re-admitted for another 8 days. That was just about 5 years ago, we will be celebrating Victoria's 5th birthday on November 7. No one will ever know just how precious preemies are unless they are parents of one. Thank you for allowing me to tell our story. Steve and Tracey Workinger
Hi Tommy: My name is Olivia Brooke Chilton. I was born May 5, 1996 (Cinco de Mayo!), three months premature. I was pretty tiny. I only weighed one pound two ounces. I was in the NICU at Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City for over three months. Wow, that was a long time! In fact, I just came home in August. My parents are so excited to get me home. I really do not know what all the fuss is about, but I sure like it here better than in the hospital (even though I loved all my nurses and the neonatal doctors, they were so good to me - I hear they saved my life). One thing for sure, anytime I make the slightest noise, someone picks me up and loves on me! I could get used to this. My mom and dad found your home page and think it is great. They really appreciate all the work your parents have done to put it all together. It is such a good cause, they say. Well, I just wanted to drop you a note and wish you the very best. I hope I grow up to be as healthy and playful as you. I should. I haven't had very many problems. You know, the old RDS and ROP stuff, with a little hepatitis thrown in for good measure. But that is all behind me now. Tell your parents to keep up the good work. God bless you all. Love, Olivia. Olivia Brooke Chilton (by daddy, Gary)
Hi Tommy: I am a sophomore at Virginia Wesleyan College in Norfolk Virginia. My name is Michelle Dawn McElligott. I came across your story in an unusual way. I don't even have a story anything like yours to relate. My reason for replying is simply my overwhelming interest in infants and toddlers.(Actually, kids of any age are a weakness of mine!) Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself. I came across your story while completing an assignment for a computers class I am taking. The assignment was to get into the Internet and find a web site that pertains to a hobby of ours or an interest. > My interests revolve mainly around children. As a kid, I couldn't wait until I was old enough to baby sit, and since then, every job I've ever held has involved kids, from baby sitting, to working in our church nursery for eight years, to the Infant Teacher position I've held for the past few years. (I have a part time job in a center in Virginia Beach while I'm at school, then during summer and winter break, I've worked full time for the same center for two years.) This experience is something that I would like to utilize in the future, but not by staying in the day care business. I actually am very interested in working with infants/toddlers through physical therapy. I have thought about neonatal nursing as well. A few years ago, my sister was pregnant with twin boys, but she lost them in the sixth month. We weren't allowed to see them, but my brother-in-law told us that they were small enough that they could have fit in a shoe box. It's not the easiest subject for her to talk about, but one of these days I would like to sit down with her and talk about it. They would be ten this year. It makes me incredibly happy to hear success stories such as yours, and I just wish that we had the technology and medicine to accommodate the possibility of problem pregnancies and premature births. I understand that you and your family are incredibly busy, but I would love to hear from you if the opportunity arises. Thanks for your time and for taking the time to offer others your story. Sincerely, Michell D. McElligott
Hi Tommy: Our son, Michael, was born 11 weeks premature and weighed 2 lbs 10 oz. He's home now, and doing wonderfully. A little over 8 lbs. After attending 3 baby showers in 3 weeks I find myself selfishly mourning the full term pregnancy I never got. I also fear future pregnancies.Michael has added more to my life than I ever thought possible, and I want him to have a brother or sister, but I wonder if it's fair for me to put another baby through what Michael went through. Melissa
Hi Tommy: Caleb and Leah are now a year old! Born last September 6 at 2#3.5 oz. and 2#4.5 oz. at 27 weeks. We can't believe it's been a year! We've been going through the pictures of the past year, especially the early ones. It really brings back the memories of just how scared we were, and the ordeal we went through. We haven't had our one year follow-up yet, but so far everything has been going great. Caleb is about 26#, Leah about 22. Both are very active and exploring the whole house. Their latest "skill" is to pull up to the furniture and clean off anything that's been left behind. Caleb's even found the reset button on the computer and has helped me out a couple of times. We continue to enjoy all the work that has been put into your site. It's a great resource for those that must go through the NICU experience now and in the future. I wish so much had been available a year ago. Thanks again, Steve
Hi Tommy: Hi, Because you are listed in my book, see below, your site is entitled to display the "Net-mom approved" Apple Pie gif if you choose to. You can find one on my home page below. Congratulations on a site that just keeps getting better and better. -- Jean Armour Polly Welcome to Net-mom
Hi Tommy: I am not the parent of a preemie, but I am a preemie. I was born at three in the afternoon on a hot July (8) day in 1976. My mom's doctors told her that I was not supposed to survive through the birth canal much less see the lights of the delivery room. I was 26 weeks early weighed 2.2, dropped to 1.14 and was only the length of a skipper doll. Thanks to a lot of truly brilliant people that God sent to save me, I am now 20 years old! Robyn Simons
Hi Tommy: I HAVE FOUND YOUR WEB PAGE TO BE A GOOD ONE! I am wondering if you could help me and my wife too. We have lost three children (ages 28w 1990,23w 1992,23w 1996)and have not been as lucky as you. According to prof. at John Radcliff hospital there is no evidence to suggest anything is wrong. The circumstances are almost identical to your wife's. I am wandering if there are any specialist around your area(country) who will/can help us reach this what now has become a dream. Please write to me and let me know of anything that is helpful. Thank you Ali rahimi
Hi Tommy: Great home page and excellent support for others. Steve Pridham
Hi Tommy: It is great to read another story so close to home in my heart. I have gone through the same experience twice now. Megan was born on July 25, 1991 at 25weeks weighing 1lb 10 oz and then we tried again in 1994 and had Alyssa On February 12 at 25+weeks. Thankfully their journey through the neonatal ward brought them home to us eventually (6months combined). We had our tears and prayers much like you went through. They are both perfectly normal children and I thank god for everyday they are with us, even though that thought may be distant on the days that sibling rivalry are inevitable! Megan came home to us eventually needing no oxygen or anything-just enlarged nostrils from that archaic CPAP device, and a few months of follow-up regarding her eyes. Alyssa came home quite early. I consented to an early discharge by being the first parents to home gavage feed at the hospital and she also went home on oxygen therapy. Lots of fears but more joy to have her home where she belongs! I found it really hard to deal with the early birth of my first for I had not heard of babies being born that early, nor did we know anybody. Man, if only there had been the internet back then. It was a lot easier to deal with all the chaos and disturbing alarms all the time come our second experience. I'd love to talk to anybody who has gone through this or is presently going through it. I find that I am still healing emotionally and there are still the scars from the experience but it sure helps to talk about it with somebody who is familiar with the stress. Preemies are definitely miracles and need all the love and support you can possibly give them. Touch, kiss, talk and be there for them - it does make a difference! I'd love to talk. Janice
Hi Tommy: I wrote to you a few months ago about my daughter Zoe. She was born 5/9/96-13 weeks early weighing only 1 pound 12 ounces. Well, she has pulled through with shining colors. She is home and doing great. Thanks for your great page and all the info about related links. I'm now on the preemie-l list and love it. Hope everything is going well. Best wishes,
Hi Tommy: I want you to meet my daughter Lisa. She is as brave as you are. She was born at 26 weeks gestation on 11/19/94 in San Francisco. Fenti Lie
Hi Tommy: In 1991 my water broke and a week later they induced labor due to an infection, my son was born at about 24weeks gestation but was not one of the lucky ones, he lived about 2 hours. Your story is very encouraging because my husband and I are trying again and I am really afraid of it happening again. Keep up the good work Tommy.. Stacey Bunnell
Hi Tommy: Gosh! Some of the stories of preemies make me want to stay at the hospital 24 hours. Colleen (1.5 lbs.at birth/ 2.5 now) was never doing great; however, she has not been in any life threatening situations. I suppose we (her dad, nurses, doctors, etc.) never really considered her not surviving. She's always been fiesty, even in utero, and we have helped stimulate her in her isolette by playing music (classical/lullabies/parent voices) on a cassette placed in her "home"; we've placed a black solar system mobile in it; and we insist she be talked to and touched by her care givers. We intend to teach and treat Colleen as if she were a full-term infant by using interactive methods to develop her cognitive skills. We will not burden ourselves with comparing her to other children her age or worry whether she can keep up with them, although everyone seems overly concerned. To us, the other children are the ones who seem a bit odd. Best wishes to your family. Hopefully, you will maintain a positive attitude which will undoubtedly rub off on Tommy!! Jaye Espy
|
|
[Hallway
(TOC) |
KingProductions.com
|
