When I was in the NICU with my twin 25 weekers, I wished for a place like this… a place where I could connect with other parents of preemies (I’ve coined the phrase “preemie parents”). Thanks so much HIPPA and its sometimes ridiculous privacy laws for making it so difficult for us to find each other! Here we can share our triumphs, tears and totally insanity that is often associated with the NICU. Please know that I’ve been where you are and I know how difficult the journey it is…but it is a journey. Journeys are meant to be taken one step at a time. I’m honored that you chose this place to be one of your steps.
My daughter spent 4 months in the NICU before she came home. My son spent 9 months in the NICU before he went on the pediatric intensive care unit and then on to a rehabilitation hospital for another 4 ½ months…this is the real deal. I’m not a doctor, a nurse, a psychatrist or a person who deal with theory. I’ve lived it and wrote a book – at the request of my twins’ doctors – to teach others how to grow through the experience, not just go through it.
My goal in writing the book and launching The Preemie Parents Foundation (www.preemieparentsfoundation.org), was to give parents a safe-haven to deal with THEIR issues. Not to talk about their baby(ies). I always believed that there were lots of resources for premature babies and none for the parents that had them.
Now there is – www.preemieparents.com and this forum. Please tell your friends! I’d like to have the largest community of preemie parents anywhere in the world…and then, the biggest support source anywhere!
Hello and welcome home!
