Bloggers Unite: March of Dimes
Today over 400 Bloggers are participating in Bloggers Unite Fight for Preemies to raise awareness of the 20 million babies who are born prematurely each year. The March of Dimes is fighting to drastically decrease these numbers. You can learn how to help fight against premature birth here.
As a mother of four preemies, I owe an ENORMOUS thank you to the efforts of the March of Dimes. Each of our 32 weekers benefited in some way, shape, or form from their dedication to fighting for preemies and diligent research. Although our quadruplets had to put up a fight for survival (especially Clark), they came out of the NICU experience with flying colors.
Most would call us lucky.
We beat the “odds”.
We had a favorable outcome in the face of many obstacles.
Obstacles that included respiratory distress, a NEC (Necrotizing Enterocolitis) scare, high billirubin levels, high blood pressure, bradyacardia, apnea, dangerously high CO2 levels, and digestive issues.
However, we know better than chalking it up to “beating the odds”. We know that “luck” discredits the true factors in our boys’ survival.
Most of all it ignores God’s ultimate plan. He chose to give us life. Sometimes He chooses to take life (that He created) away. Sometimes even to those in our exact same circumstances, or with even better “chances”. I simply can’t understand it in this lifetime.
And to be completely honest, sometimes it’s not always easy to be the “survivor” family.
~ It’s extremely difficult to watch a mother of twins next to you meet her babies, for the sole purpose of saying goodbye.
~ It’s emotionally disturbing to listen to two mothers scream in agony over losing their babies on both sides of the walls of your high-risk unit room, while you feel your four babies moving inside of you.
~ It’s gut retching to have four healthy babies safely at home and read about a mother who you’ve followed throughout her pregnancy loose 5/6 of her sextuplets.
~ It’s unbearable to watch a friend’s full-term baby be born with multiple complications, and unable to survive.
Of course it makes me thankful for the breathing, heart-beating lives of our boys, but there’s also a guilt that’s hard to explain. I don’t deserve these blessings, yet God allowed them to live; And not only live but thrive.
These are the emotions that surround me as a mother of 4 premature success stories, I cannot fathom the grief of the other side.
I cannot wrap my mind around it.
Instead, I can only choose to be grateful. Grateful for their precious miracle lives that God has chosen for us to raise another day. And thankful for how He used the doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists of St. Vincent Women’s Hospital, and for the efforts made through the March of Dimes in their little lives.
And that is how we left these doors as SURVIVORS.
If you are blogging for the cause of fighting for preemies. Feel free to link up your specific post here:
I cannot imagine the survivor's guilt. But, praise God that he chose to give your little boys life. They are precious! God bless you and your family!
Jenn, I also am still amazed almost 10 years later and how well my "preemies" are! I never would have dreamed that those sick 28 weekers would come away from that situation and be such normal 4th graders today. I remember seeing sad cases around us in the NICU, as well as friends in the past 9 years who have suffered so much tragedy with infant loss. I don't know why God chose me to be on one the "lucky ones" whose children survived and thrived, but I am grateful every day!
What a grateful heart you have! His ways are not our ways, just know that there is a special purpose for each of your boys here on earth and that is why they are here. Bless you!
Beautiful, powerful post. You are blessed indeed!
(Have you ever linked up to Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers? This would fit perfectly!)
Beautiful post. You have such a wonderful story and it has been a priveledge to read about those 4 miracles over the years!!
Hey Jen, you write the most beautiful and from-the-heart blogs. I can really see how much you and Brad give all the glory to the Lord for your precious boys. They are miracles! Amazing Miracles! Loved reading this post. What sweet pictures..they have come so far!! Sioby
Blessings to you and your boys! I am the mom of 5 and we have a set of identical twins who are now 17. Your story is amazing. I'd love to share it at my site. Please visit and contact me there to discuss the best way to proceed (if you are interested)
In Him,
Teresa
Beautifully written and so well-articulated… I posted a series last year on "coping with others' loss" that addressed this a little bit too. It's staggering and mind-boggling and heart-wrenching…
Praise God that he saw fit for your precious boys to be so strong and do so well.
Glad you made it to 32 wks! 🙂
I know that survivors' guilt far too well. Our primary nurse in the NICU was also responsible for a baby on hospice care. She was given that grouping of babies because ours were healthy enough that they'd be fine if the sick baby needed to be resuscitated. It was surreal.
Thank you for sharing your story.
Enjoy those boys!
Your boys are fortunate to have you as their mommy. They are truly a blessing. I'm writing on behalf of the March of Dimes to thank you for your support, for sharing your story and for joining the fight for preemies. There is still so much that needs to be done to make sure every baby has a healthy start. Thank you.
AWW your babes are awesome. 32 weeks ROCKS!! Thanks for coming over and visiting. I cant wait to check back more often
Well said! We were also at St V Women's (26 week singleton!)
Thanks, again for the great blog post; it was interesting to hear the variety of feelings with a high risk pregnancy.
I, however, never support the March of Dimes, and can not in good conscience, until they stop their pro-abortion activities.
How's the job hunt going?
-Rebecca Wilson
I read this earlier in the week. Such a great post of God's faithfulness and mercy.
Thanks for sharing it with us!