Friday, October 28, 2011

Reemie The Preemie


Open publication - Free publishing - More babies

Here is a great little e-book to share with a brother or sister of a preemie! It does a sweet job of putting the preemie and NICU experience into very simple and relatable terms. Enjoy & share!

Sunday, October 16, 2011

2012 Calendar Fundraising Family: Team Acadia & The Monkey Trio


Team Acadia & The Monkey Trio
In 2006, My husband Paul and I were excited to finally after 16 long months of infertility treatments and emotional roller coaster ride of trying to conceive found out that our son Kenai would finally be having a little sibling. It was a regular type of pregnancy. About 28 weeks into, my doctor found out that my A1C was SKY HIGH and started sending me to a maternal fetal medicine specialist in Nashville. While my husband was out of the country for work, I had an ultrasound in October and found out that our baby was going to have issues with the legs, but exactly what, I wasn't sure, and neither were the doctors. It wasn't until the day after christmas that we found out 1. we had a little girl that we named Acadia Faith and 2. she had a condition called Caudal Regression syndrome. She had bones missing her hips and leg, her foot was completely clubbed and one foot had 6 little toes.
It was 3 days later when I was discharged from the hospital that we found out the heartbreaking news that she not only had these other issues, but she also had a heart condition called Truncus Arteriorosis and this would require surgery in a very short time as this condition is life threatening. When Acadia was 10 days old, she underwent open heart surgery. The surgery lasted 7 hours and in the last hour of the surgery she went downhill quick and needed to be put on a machine called ECMO in order to help her heal. what we didn't know at the time was that most people who are put on this machine have a very uphill battle coming off the machine, and most will not. During the night, Acadia had a blood clot and was given medications to get rid of it. The medicine caused her to have a brain hemmorhage. By noon the next day the only thing that was keeping our sweet baby alive was the ECMO machine. Paul and I made the difficult decision to let her go and have her baptized and given last rites. By 3 pm that day, January 6th, 2007, our sweet angel grew her wings.


Acadia 






OUR TEAM GOAL IS TO ORDER 25 CALENDARS!

Team Members
Mellissa & Family
Paul's parents
Pamie Tan
Malisa Phillips



HERE IS THE FRONT COVER OF THE CALENDAR AND A PREVIEW



YOU CAN PRINT OFF THIS ORDER FORM AND MAIL IN WITH OUR TEAM NAME AND A CHECK OR MONEY ORDER OR JUST USE THE BUTTON BELOW TO ORDER WITH A CREDIT CARD TO BE AUTOMATICALLY ADDED TO OUR TEAM. CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED ANY HELP! ~Mellissa


LEARN MORE ABOUT PREEMIE PRINTS BY VISITING 

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING NICU FAMILIES!

ORDER CALENDARS ONLINE HERE:


Delivery Options
original fundraising ideas
Free thermometers
to track your cheerleader fundraisers efforts

Monday, October 10, 2011

2012 Fundraising Family: Team Small Blessing


Team Small Blessing

 Kennedi Zahar Branch was born Jan. 17, 2011 at 24 weeks gestation weighing 1 lb 10 oz. and 11 3/4 inches long. She was airlifted to the nearest level III NICU which was an hour and 15 min drive from our home. I cannot begin to put into words how devastating it was to stay in the maternity ward and leave the hospital without my baby.

During Kennedi's 93 days in the NICU she was diagnosed with a mild brain bleed on her left side, a moderate sized heart murmur, chronic lung disease and had  abnormal blood vessels and scar tissue grow over her retina in both eyes. By the time Kennedi was released her brain bleed had cleared up completely. She was still on oxygen and a apnea monitor and had to follow up with her cardiologist and optometrist. 

Today Kennedi is a happyy almost 9 month old (5 months adjusted) she still sees her cardiologist has since been diagnosed with Pulmonary stenosis, meaning her heart muscles are not as flexible as they should be, and her heart murmur is still present. She continues to see the optometrist, but has been cleared of any deficiencies due to prematurity. She receives physical therapy once a week for an hour a week. Kennedi is still very small for her age and her gross motor skills are somewhat behind, but she is steadily progressing.

Kennedi is an absolute joy and blessing for our family. We are so thankful and grateful to have her and we are participating in this fundraiser to increase awareness and funds to help make it possible for the next preemie to have a success story.
Thank you for your donation and God bless you and your family! 


Kennedi minutes old

Kennedi and Nate



OUR TEAM GOAL IS TO ORDER 10 CALENDARS!

Team Members
Cofféi, Brittney, Nate & Kennedi



HERE IS THE FRONT COVER OF THE CALENDAR AND A PREVIEW



YOU CAN PRINT OFF THIS ORDER FORM AND MAIL IN WITH OUR TEAM NAME AND A CHECK OR MONEY ORDER OR JUST USE THE BUTTON BELOW TO ORDER WITH A CREDIT CARD TO BE AUTOMATICALLY ADDED TO OUR TEAM. CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED ANY HELP! ~COFFEI


LEARN MORE ABOUT PREEMIE PRINTS BY VISITING 

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING NICU FAMILIES!

ORDER CALENDARS ONLINE HERE:



Delivery Options
fundraiser ideas
Free thermometers
to track your cheerleader fundraising efforts

2012 Calendar Fundraising Family: Team Bug


Team BUG

My son Jayce logan was born April 8,2011 @ 9:43am.. He was  tiny tiny 1lb 5oz .. I had an emergancy c-section 17days after my water fully broke. Jayce was  25weeker... He was given 5% chance of surviving.. Today my son is  6months old (2.5months corrected) his due date was July 22,2011.. I cant ask for a better lil boy. I found preemie prints while laid up in the hospital with an infection after having my son.. The support i got was amazing!! Raising money will help other families like us with their long long road... Too many families go threw this alone but with our help they can have the amazing support we share as preemie parents!! 

4hours after birth

Today with his sister. She loves her brother soo much its amazing...
OUR TEAM GOAL IS TO ORDER 15 CALENDARS!

Team Members
Faina Rakhvarger & Family
Amy Afflerbach
Samantha Raab




HERE IS THE FRONT COVER OF THE CALENDAR AND A PREVIEW



YOU CAN PRINT OFF THIS ORDER FORM AND MAIL IN WITH OUR TEAM NAME AND A CHECK OR MONEY ORDER OR JUST USE THE BUTTON BELOW TO ORDER WITH A CREDIT CARD TO BE AUTOMATICALLY ADDED TO OUR TEAM. CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED ANY HELP! ~FAINA


LEARN MORE ABOUT PREEMIE PRINTS BY VISITING 

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING NICU FAMILIES!

ORDER CALENDARS ONLINE HERE:


Delivery Options
school fundraisers
Free thermometers
to track your cheerleader fundraisers efforts

Sunday, October 9, 2011

2012 Fundraising Family: The El Kasmi Team

Team El Kasmi


To All Our Family and Friends:

We are so proud of Adam, and his journey!  Our first year was a slow and scary one, but we are so grateful for all of our prayers answered! There is only one explanation for this.. HE IS OUR MIRACLE!

We are so excited that he is in the Preemie Prints Calendar, and that we can be a part of something so special. I hope everyone can take a moment and tip your hat to Amber- for making Preemie Prints...a wonderful organization...please take a moment if you can and visit her website...www.preemieprints.org.

We will always remember how Adam made his way into the world, and how he fought against great odds the day he was delivered. When you dream, hope and pray the day your baby arrives into your arms - there is nothing more precious, more sentimental, and more amazing than the birth of your child. When they arrive in a way that Adam did, it is so scary and so unreal. It is very hard to put in words what that experience and emotion does .When I was air lifted for his delivery, I was in great denial about what the doctors were saying . There was no way this could be possible. I was just not ready to make peace and say "good bye" to our little Adam. Perhaps that was a good thing, ignorance is bliss, because the doctors did not expect our Adam to make the delivery and go to the NICU. I was not able to comprehend "the talk" just moments before his delivery.

After CPR and being immediately placed on a vent - a machine to breath FOR him and  2 chest tubes - our little miracle made it to the NICU. He was followed, though, with  a list of 14 diagnostic problems- all of which were very dangerous, and all of which needed medical intervention immediately. He stayed in the pod for 3 long weeks... in a coma and on the vent. He had a rocky start, he had many scary days, and many scary medical procedures in which there were decisions to be made, and consents to be given for his care. We had to hear talk about him being on "deaths door" , as well as his crucial first moments on "death watch". It makes for a heart to crumble,  spirits and faith to be tested. Most of all , it makes you question everything, bargain, beg and plead with god.

We were not allowed to hold him for a month, it was pure torture to not be able to hold him. He was so sick, but we spent every single day at his bed side. Many nights into the early morning hours, I sang to him, touched his tiny hands and feet, stroking his little body with my finger.  Many days I had to be "kicked out" (very politely and compassionately might I add) from his nurses, as I was recovering from a c section. Ryan was admitted to the floor above Adam when he was only 6 days old- with a Ruptured Appendix- and he spent a week there...so mommy never got a break. I only managed to come home for 3 different occasions in 2 1/2 months.  I was so worried if I left- even to try and eat, or pump my milk for him- that I would get "the call" telling me in a panic, to come back immediately because he coded, or far worse that he passed. 

So thankful, that I was able to stay across the the street from the hospital. Even though it was so very hard to be away from home and have our family apart.. we knew Mommy had to be right there all the time for Adam. Daddy came back and forth keeping the home front going, and spend the weekends up there in St Pete. Janette, Ryan and Sara also came up and spent the night many times a week, and also spending weekends together. A great big hand for Auntie Noreen "CEE CEE"- who came for a month. 

I'm not sure, even now- how we made it through that time. I am not sure if I will ever be able to "get over it",  but this I do know...we are so thankful to all of our friends and family who sent love and care, prayers and kind words when we really needed it. I am so sure of miracles,  the test of faith , hope and love. When in my darkest hour, the most fearful journey that a parent should ever have to walk through, we always felt we could lean on love.

I am so thankful to have met Amber through such a magnificent way, and am always telling people and spreading the word about Preemie Prints. It is something that touched my heart so tenderly. I could never say enough- how special it was to have her kindness and her compassion touch our family! Please support Preemie Prints through such a sweet and adorable calendar fundraiser... It would mean so much to me and all the families who have been through, and are going through the most difficult and hardest time in their lives.

Please join THE EL KASMI FAMILY -  Moe, Kristin, Janette, Ryan , Sara and of course our Adam- in Adam Joseph's honor, please buy a calendar and know that it is a great cause and that so many families will be touched! Here are a few photos of how far our sweet Miracle has come!






OUR TEAM GOAL IS TO ORDER 40 CALENDARS!

Team Members
Team Leader: Kristin & Family-Contact me if you need help healinghands71@hotmail.com
Jennifer Ball
Christy Keefe
Victoria Leonard
Anne Wuslow
Jan Fender
Dorothy Chiu
Noreen Cousins
John Adrien



HERE IS THE FRONT COVER OF THE CALENDAR AND A PREVIEW



YOU CAN PRINT OFF THIS ORDER FORM AND MAIL IN WITH OUR TEAM NAME AND A CHECK OR MONEY ORDER OR JUST USE THE BUTTON BELOW TO ORDER WITH A CREDIT CARD TO BE AUTOMATICALLY ADDED TO OUR TEAM. CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED ANY HELP! ~KRISTIN


LEARN MORE ABOUT PREEMIE PRINTS BY VISITING 

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING NICU FAMILIES!



ORDER CALENDARS ONLINE HERE:


Delivery Options



original fundraising ideas
Free thermometers
to track your cheerleader fundraisers efforts

Saturday, October 8, 2011

2012 Fundraising Family: Team Transformer


Team Transformer






Joshua's journey began December 16, 2010 at 2:45 p.m. when he was born 6 weeks early.  His stay in the NICU has forever changed not only my life but his brother's as well. The NICU experience is unexplainable, scary and amazing. One of the most difficult things about our experience was that Caleb could not see his brother, every day Caleb would ask "does Joshua get to come home tomorrow?" The disappointment in his eyes when I would tell him not yet was heartbreaking. Joshua's journey made us stronger individually and our family stronger. Caleb wants to help raise money for Preemie Prints so they can continue to help families in the NICU! He has set a goal of $200.00 which is roughly 10 calendars.  This is an amazing organization that Caleb wants to help and the calendar is beautiful!

OUR TEAM GOAL IS TO ORDER 10 CALENDARS!

Team Members
Team Leader: Stephanie Todd-Contact me if you need help, at csortho2@gmail.com
Joshua 
Caleb
John Geer
Stephen Todd
Vicki Mies


HERE IS THE FRONT COVER OF THE CALENDAR AND A PREVIEW



YOU CAN PRINT OFF THIS ORDER FORM AND MAIL IN WITH OUR TEAM NAME AND A CHECK OR MONEY ORDER OR JUST USE THE BUTTON BELOW TO ORDER WITH A CREDIT CARD TO BE AUTOMATICALLY ADDED TO OUR TEAM. CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED ANY HELP! ~Stephanie (csortho2@gmail.com)




ORDER CALENDARS ONLINE HERE:


Delivery Options
original fundraising ideas
Free thermometers
to track your cheerleader fundraisers efforts

2012 Calendar Fundraising Family: Team Weaver


Team Weaver


Prematurity has completely changed nearly every aspect of our lives. Stepping into parenthood we had a completely different vision for how pregnancy, delivery, and newborn life would be. Our world completely changed on April 28, 2008 when Eliott Weaver was born at 33 weeks. Following that life changing experience, our 2nd son, Milo Weaver, was born prematurely as well at 35 weeks on September 13, 2010.  Despite our NICU and prematurity experiences being overwhelming, scary, sad, frustrating, and heart breaking, through the heartache we were taught incredible life lessons, learned more than we could ever imagine about caring for a preemie, and watched so many amazing, beautiful, and astonishing miracles unfold before our eyes.  These miracles have continued to unfold and are present even today.

These boys have inspired Perry and I to do what we can to raise awareness for prematurity. There are many less fortunate families and babies out there, and we would love to give back and make sure we see every family gain some hope. Our boys are an inspiration to us and our families. As Assistant Director of the Houston Chapter of Preemie Prints, I hope that I can continue to bring hope to other families no matter what they have gone through. 


OUR TEAM GOAL IS TO ORDER 10 CALENDARS!

Team Members
Team Leader: Allison
Perry
Eliott
Milo
Deborah Husband





HERE IS THE FRONT COVER OF THE CALENDAR AND A PREVIEW



YOU CAN PRINT OFF THIS ORDER FORM AND MAIL IN WITH OUR TEAM NAME AND A CHECK OR MONEY ORDER OR JUST USE THE BUTTON BELOW TO ORDER WITH A CREDIT CARD TO BE AUTOMATICALLY ADDED TO OUR TEAM. CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED ANY HELP! 




ORDER CALENDARS ONLINE HERE:


Delivery Options
school fundraisers
Free thermometers
to track your cheerleader fundraising efforts