Hello friends. I know we usually share music related fun, but I really want to share my personal story as my family was selected the 2013 Ambassador Family for the Miami Chapter of March of Dimes. We are happy to help make a difference in the lives of so many Babies who are fighting for their lives in the NICU. Hopefully our story will inspire people to walk at their local walks, make a donation on our team page or on the National March of Dimes page and ultimately put an end to premature births!
Here is our Story:
I did everything right during my pregnancy and then suddenly without warning contractions in the middle of the night.
Inexperienced and unaware of what I was feeling, I waited for it to pass, until the pain was to much to bare and my husband rushed me to the hospital were we found out that I was in active labor. I was given all possible medications to stop the labor from progressing. But it didn’t work, our son Nicolas came into the world weighing a mere 1lb, 2 ounces. It was the scariest of times and the happiest of times. Our little gift was here, but he was fighting for his life. He was whisked to the NICU – where doctors told us his chance for survival was low and the only thing they promised is that the road ahead would be a roller coaster of emotions. Twenty-one emotional days we spent in the NICU next to our little baby. He was in an incubator provided by the March of Dimes. He had tubes, lines, masks, beeping monitors all over and around him. He fought as hard as he could but he and went into cardiac arrest twice and was shocked back to life. On May 5, 2004, 21 days after he was born to early for this world, Nicolas passed away on a quiet sunny morning. He passed away on my husband’s 29th Birthday. He was free and we were devastated. That weekend was Mother’s Day. It was a day of heavy emotions. My family was scared to celebrate not sure how I would feel about this day. But I was THANKFUL! Thankful for the gift of modern technology, research, advanced medical procedures and the March of Dimes I was able to say proudly “ I AM A MOTHER.” My baby was gone, but I was a mother. I was able to touch and kiss and sing to my child and no one can ever take that away from me. I was given the gift of time. Time to be the best mom to the most beautiful baby. This gift was made possible by the March of Dimes.
A year later, we were blessed with the birth of our daughter Maggie. She was born at 34 weeks – a full pregnancy is 40 weeks – again, with no warning sign or real reason as of why I was in preterm labor. She weighed a whopping 7 lbs, even though she was 6 weeks early! However size didn’t matter came to her development. She had difficulty breathing and eating ultimately requiring immediate admission into the NICU into another incubator from the March of Dimes.
This time we were lucky. There is a big difference of being born between 24 and 34 weeks, and after a week in the NICU, we were able to bring a beautiful baby girl home. Then there’s my baby Leo. At 26 weeks gestation I began feeling contractions. This time I knew what was happening. I knew the signs and symptoms of premature labor. They treated me and my OBGYN decided to put me on bed rest and ordered Metria Health System to do constant In Home Monitoring. I had a catheter in my leg, a monitor around my belly. They tracked my situation real time and kept in constant contact. This went on for 3 months but it saved Leo’s life!
He was born on March 13, 2007 via C- section weighing in at 9lbs. When they brought him to me after recovery I did not know what to do. I had never had a baby come into my arms after being born. The NICU was all we knew. Baby Leo was FULL TERM and he was PERFECT!
Maggie and Leo today are Strong and healthy beautiful children thanks to the March of Dimes and YOU!
We will always miss our Nicolas but will always be thankful to you for walking in March for Babies. For raising funds needed for research so babies can survive, for helping to support education so that women like me know the sign and symptoms of preterm labor, and for advocating for the health of all babies.
We urge you to Be You Best for Babies. For babies, like Nicolas, Maggie and Leo and for babies who are fighting for their lives in the NICU tonight.
I sing a song of joy everyday! Thankful for what I have and what I have lived.
OUR ANGEL Nicolas- 1lb born 24 weeks
Leo 9 lb! 39 weeks!
Happy Family!
Our NICU Story– Click to See our Video