A child...			...born too soon
			by Tammy Lipke

The experience of having a child, in most families, is the most joyous event ever. For a few special families, the joy is overshadowed by hurt, anger, fear, and anxiety. This is the life of the parents of a child born too soon. Not long ago, these very special children largely died at birth. Survival was the exception rather than the rule.

Day 1 4-hours old, weight: 1 pound, 15 oz.

In my own family, after one high-risk pregnancy, we were assured by our doctor that another similar experience was very unlikely. Then the day came.....15 1/2 weeks before my second daughter was due to be born, I was sent to Vancouver, already in and out of labor. Four short days later, Amanda Nicole made her first appearance, weighing in at an unimaginable 1 pound, 15 ounces. Later that day, when I took my husband to see our baby, I was overwhelmed with the realization that I couldn't see her face!

17 days old...first cuddle! weight: 1 pound 13 oz.

There were too many tubes, and there was too much tape, coming from every orifice. Even her scalp was covered with an intravenous tube and the adhesive to hold it in place. I left the room in tears, knowing that at least her nurses would be by her isolette around the clock. When I was released from the hospital, our immediate problems were accomodations and money.