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This page is all about the preterm labor and birth of my daughter, Haley "Miracle", aka The Haley Bug! We call her Haley "Miracle" because she was born at 25 weeks 1 day gestation, or 3 1/2 months early. She was due March 6, 1999 and she was born November 23, 1998, sometimes that puts it into perspective!
You will find our entire story throughout these pages. We will take you from Haley's early birth and bumpy road in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), right on up to the present showing what a wonderful and delightful little girl Haley has become.
* Read a very special essay, 'Three Years Worth of Miracle'
The story to the right is called 'Imagine' and was written by Me (Holly), Haley's mommy. It is a summation of our experience with prematurity.
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news to share about our Haley Bug. On April 3, 2002, she was diagnosed with
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. She started chemotherapy on April 6. It is
going to be a long road, but we will get through this just as we did her
early start to life. You can keep up to date on her progress at her Leukemia
Updates Page by clicking here.
Imagine being 23 weeks pregnant with your first baby at 21 years old, and your water breaks and you are hemorrhaging....... Imagine being taken to a hospital where they tell you that your baby only weighs 535 grams, and that she isn't "viable" unless she is 700 grams...... Imagine being told that there is no amniotic fluid left. Imagine not knowing that the baby can make more....... Imagine crying hysterically with your husband because you can't imagine your life without this baby now. Imagine praying to God for a miracle....... Imagine having no idea that babies across the world are born premature every day, and that babies have survived at even 22 weeks........ Imagine as you are lying in the hospital bed crying with your husband, a TV show comes on. Imagine that TV show is Guinness Book of World Records, and that one of the records is the world's most premature baby. Imagine realizing this is the answer to your prayers, a reassurance from God not to give up hope just yet......... Imagine being transferred to a hospital in the middle of the night where they tell you that they will try to save your baby if that is what you want them to do. Imagine the joy we felt when they told us they considered or baby "viable".......... Imagine laying in the hospital for 2 weeks on complete, strict bedrest hanging upside down, giving your daughter time to grow, hoping and praying each day that today isn't the day she decides to come too soon......... Imagine that every time you move, your babies heart rate drops to the 60's....... Imagine that when you are 25 weeks pregnant, you go into labor, and have your baby. Imagine that she weighs 1lb 11oz. Imagine that you only get a quick glance at the baby you just gave birth to before she is taken away to be resucitated.......... Imagine a God so awesome that He held your hand during and after the birth and gave you the most overwhelming feeling of peace you have ever felt. Imagine knowing that your baby was going to be OK even as you hear "I can't find a heartbeat"........ Imagine waiting over an hour to go see her and when you get there, all her alarms are going off and after a mere few seconds, you are told you have to leave because they need to work on her........ Imagine sitting by her bed and crying every day when all you want to do is show her how much you love her, but you don't know how. Imagine wanting to sit by her side 24 hours a day, but not being able to........ Imagine finally holding her after she is 10 days old. Imagine doing Kangaroo care for the first time the next day. Imagine she gets very unstable the next day, and no one will let you hold her anymore. Imagine aching to hold her every day now. Imagine asking each nurse every day only to hear "No, she is too little." Imagine that 10 days later the nurse who let you do the Kangaroo Care comes back and lets you hold her again........ Imagine over 3 months of going back and forth between the NICU and home. Imagine arguing every day with your husband because you want to spend more time at the hospital than he does. Imagine leaving your daughter every day and crying EVERY time......... Imagine the doctors start to talk about her coming home. Imagine the day that you are told you will room in with her and she will go home the next day. Imagine having all your things packed and ready to go, only for the doctor to come and tell you they have bad news........ Imagine knowing that once again you have to leave your daughter at the hospital. Imagine not being able to fathom leaving her again after spending the night with her last night...... Imagine that 2 weeks later you finally do take her home. Imagine the joy you feel as you walk out of the hospital with your daughter for the first time ever. Imagine bringing her into your home and snuggling with her on your couch........ Imagine that today she is now 9 times the size she was. Imagine that she is sitting up and starting to do baby talk. Imagine that you never thought things would turn out as well as they have. Imagine thanking God every day for having her in your life. Imagine looking at your daughter every day and knowing that you are looking at a miracle....... Imagine knowing tons of preemie moms thanks to the information super highway (known as the Internet!) and loving them like they are your family. Imagine that some of your best friends, you have never even met. Imagine thanking God every day for having them in your life! By Holly, mom to Haley, a 25 weeker who was 10 months old when this was written.
All Graphic and Web Design was done by my mommy, Holly Curtis. All the contents of this page are ©2000-2002 Holly Curtis. They may not be retransmitted in any form without express consent from the owner, Holly Curtis.  Page last updated: February 27, 2002 |
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