November 17th is prematurity awareness day. For the month of November we have been blogging our journey with prematurity and blogging for awareness. The theme of the March of Dimes this year is one that I can't help but be passionate about. This year they are using the phrase "Fight, because Babies shouldn't have to!"I fight because Tyler and millions of other babies shouldn't have to.
Prematurity is the leading cause of Death of American newborns. Those who do survive often have life long challenges.
They fight everyday.
Tyler was born at 25 weeks and 3 days into my pregnancy.
94 days before he was suppose to. That means he fought for 94 days to live so that we could take him home. But the fighting hasn't stopped since.
He fought through a Patent Ductus Arteriosis, Grade 3 and 4 brain bleeds, Chronic lung disease, Retinopathy of prematurity, PVL, Cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus and craniosynostosis. He has been shunted, endured countless hours of therapy, bracing, brain surgeries, heart surgery, Skull reconstructions and low vision. All because he has had to fight. All because he came 94 days before he was suppose to.
I fight because every day we struggle with food, sensory processing, cerebral palsy, high muscle tone, no words. Every day I fight to help him lead a life that is less challenging. Everyday I try to do one thing that would make his world easier.
Everyday I try to tell our story so that ONE mom never has to feel the guilt I feel for not making it those 94 MORE days.
I fight so no mother has to wonder what she did to hurt her baby.
I fight so no mother has to question whether support should be withheld.
I fight to get accommodations made so that Tyler can be a participant in EVERY activity!
I fight because Tyler can't.
He has his own battle to fight. He is a hero. He is fighting every day. He attends those therapies that we take him to, he listens day in and day out at the boring letters and words he hears trying to get him to speak. He fights everyday to put one foot in front of the other with out falling, all because those 94 days he came to early left him with Cerebral Palsy. Everyday he fights.
I fight to help others understand that we need accommodations made so he can enjoy life to the fullest. I fight to find ways to help his processing disorder be a happy place instead of a lonely one.
I fight because of EVERY MEDICAL ADVANCE and ever MODERN DAY MIRACLES we can't figure out a way to keep a women pregnant LONG enough to save these babies from disability and death.
We have put a man on the moon for Pete' sake. We have found water on the moon. We are transplanting organs into children and adults, yet we STILL can't find a way for a woman to give her child a FULL 40 weeks of pregnancy to SAVE HER CHILD from a life of disability.
I fight because I love a preemie.
I fight because he is mine. And he deserved nine months. And I keep fighting because he deserves the best.
I fight because I want my next child to have NINE MONTHS
I fight because I am raising a miracle.
I fight, so he doesn't have to!
We fight so THEY don't have to.
Please, support us in your blogging and face book status and twitter messages. Fight4preemie so they don't have to! We would especially like to see our family out there showing their support for the Miracle that happened in their life on Sept.21st and who every single day shows courage to be the best Tyler he can be!
FIGHT....... Because they can't
* this was a repost from my blog, I haven't been around much but have read. We have a few things coming up that I can't wait to share and hope to get some input from the lovely ladies we have on here! Thanks for reading, sorry if the photos are to big!*
4 comments:
Wow! This post is very powerful. Thank you for better educating me.
Beautiful post! It brought tears to my eyes. As a mother of a preemie, we have had our share of fighting, too. Thanks for being such a great advocate!
Thanks girls. I am so thankful for all of you! Thanks a billion
Thanks! That is a great post. I needed to hear it too. I'm now 35 weeks along and struggling through every day of it. I just want to get this pregnancy over with! It's too stressful and traumatic. Right now I'm the only one responsible for keeping this baby safe and healthy. Having her out seems like it would be so nice, just so someone else can share that burden with me. Because my other babies have been so early, once six months hit, my 'instincts' or something inside me started telling me that it was time for the baby to be born. Because we've gone so much further this time, it feels like I'm way way way over due. I can tell myself logically that I'm not, I can tell myself it's good to keep her in. But I can't get rid of that emotion that says I've been pregnant way too long, and it's been so hard. This post helps remind me, and helps to reach that emotion a little better than just 'telling myself'. I'm glad to remember why it's so important to STAY pregnant! Thanks for giving me something more to hold onto.
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