Friend with preemie needs your thoughts and prayers

[Doran]

I don't usually post this sort of request, but this is one that I feel could use some big energy.

A newer friend of mine recently delivered a baby girl at only 24 weeks gestation. Baby is now five days old and is, actually, doing very well considering her age and size. She weighed just under 1.5 lbs. at birth. The mother is extraordinary! So positive, accepting, hopeful. But, I am wrestling with fears for her if her baby does not survive. This mother lost twins last summer who were born at 17 weeks and lived three days. She was devastated.

This little one has a long way to go. Those of us who are trying to support her are encouraged by the strength both mother and baby are showing right now.

When you think of them, please send them strength. The baby's name is Anja (pronounced Ahn-ya). Thanks.

Doran

[Laura in VA]

Please keep us posted.

[Tracey in TX]

Sending well wishes to your friend and her precious Anja!
I know lots of moms who've delivered 24-26 wks. (It's common to deliver micro-preemies with triplets/quads.) While it's a long haul for both baby and family, generally the outcome is a fairly healthy child sans a few issues (eyesight, asthma). Some days are wonderful and hopeful, and then a heartbreaking day when the baby might have a setback.
I pray that she is one of the healthy children. At 1.5 lbs she has a decent beginning.
A few items which might be appreciated: cute doll clothes which baby can wear (if approved by hospital), a journal, meals--she'll be spending enormous hours at the NICU, and keep baby in a prayer chain. Set up a call roster for times when she needs extra support, but doesn't have energy to call every friend.
Best of wishes to Anja and mom,
Tracey

[Doran]

A few items which might be appreciated: cute doll clothes which baby can wear (if approved by hospital), a journal, meals--she'll be spending enormous hours at the NICU, and keep baby in a prayer chain. Set up a call roster for times when she needs extra support, but doesn't have energy to call every friend.

This is a helpful list. I should mention, though, that one of the hardest parts about this experience is that the mother was transferred to University of Maryland in Baltimore (~1 hour from me and other friends here) just before she delivered. That's a good thing for the baby as the NICU here would have not have the same capablities. But, it means she is harder to access for us. She will be staying at a Ronald McDonald house now that she's been discharged from the hospital. Baby may not be ready to come home until July. So, it will be a long haul separated by much distance. So tricky.

Doran

[Jean in Wisc]

This will be a way of life for a long time! Prayers here.

[Doran]

This will be a way of life for a long time! Prayers here.


Not to mention that Mom was hospitalized and bed bound for nearly a month before this baby was born. I can't say that I would have made the same choice, but I have to honor her resolve, her willingness to sacrifice everything for this baby, and her acceptance of her situation once that choice was made.

Doran

[astrid]

Fight, little Anja! Keep us posted, Doran.
Hugs to all involved.

[Sue G in PA]

What a difficult situation and extraordinary strength on the part of her mom. God does work miracles!

[WTMindy]

I'm praying for little Anja right now!! Please keep us posted.

[Brigitte]

Sending them their way...I am a mom to preemie twins (27.5 wks, 2 lbs), so I can relate to what she is going through. One thing we are really glad we had in the NICU were disposable cameras by the babies' bedside. That way we were able to document the journey. The nurses would take pics of noteworthy "event" when we weren't there.

Hoping for the best outcome...

Brigitte

[Doran]

Things had been going very well with a number of happy milestones (like pooping and clean brain scans). But, I just got a call from my friend who tells me that baby Anja, as of today, has developed an infection. Doctors have started her on antibiotics and were about to perform a spinal tap on this tiny little person. Your thoughts and prayers are most appreciated right now. I'm hoping little Anja continues to be the fighter she has been up to now.

Doran

[Darcy from LWM3B]

There is a NICU Family Support site that may be of tremendous emotional support for the family. Please do pass it on.

www.shareyourstory.org

It is a wonderful community for families who have been there.

-mom of a 28 wk preemie who has BTDT. Prayers!

[Doran]

There is a NICU Family Support site that may be of tremendous emotional support for the family. Please do pass it on.

www.shareyourstory.org (http://www.shareyourstory.org)

It is a wonderful community for families who have been there.

-mom of a 28 wk preemie who has BTDT. Prayers!


I will definitely pass this resource along. Thanks for your understanding!

Doran

[Crissy]

Praying, Doran.
Do keep us posted.

[Mom2legomaniacs]

This is something that is so hard to comprehend. That must be difficult beyond difficult! I am so sorry that this poor little one has to work so hard just to be here. And her family must be in such a difficult place to see her like that and just want her to be okay. I will lift them up.

[Janna]

Oh, your poor, dear, sweet friend! What she has already endured and is enduring yet again! Absolutely I will be in prayer for her. And sweet Anja! The Lord has them in His hands - I firmly believe that. Please keep us updated, Doran!

[Soph the vet]

Praying here for Anja!

[Doran]

I called my friend earlier this morning. Anja seems to have responded well to the antibiotics (3 different ones!:blink:) and is doing better today. Mom is tired, and worried, as you can imagine. For the first time since all this began, I am hearing her sound less positive, and the crazy thing is, she is down on herself for not being able to be more "together". Poor woman! I tried hard to reassure her on how remarkable she truly is.

She is grateful that "others" are keeping them in thought and prayer. Thank you all.


Doran

[WTMindy]

I called my friend earlier this morning. Anja seems to have responded well to the antibiotics (3 different ones!:blink:) and is doing better today. Mom is tired, and worried, as you can imagine. For the first time since all this began, I am hearing her sound less positive, and the crazy thing is, she is down on herself for not being able to be more "together". Poor woman! I tried hard to reassure her on how remarkable she truly is.

She is grateful that "others" are keeping them in thought and prayer. Thank you all.

Doran

Still praying here!! The poor mommy!

[paula j]

Praying.

[DB in NJ]

This brought tears to my eyes.

Praying now for little Anja and her mommy.


((((Doran)))) You're a good friend.

[Doran]

I added a couple of photos that I just received. I probably won't leave them up forever, but for today, I thought some of you might like to see baby Anja.

Doran

[Doran]

removed

[Doran]

It's been a month since my last update. At this point, there are some very happy milestones to report.

Baby Anja now weighs 2lb. 1.5oz. She is 14" long. She is being nourished entirely with her mother's pumped breast milk along with a small added amount of a calorie boosting substance. About a week ago, roughly a month after her premature delivery, her mother was able to hold her for the first time!! While she still gets a bit of mechanical assistance with her breathing (though a machine similar to a CPAP), this week, the doctors have removed her ventilator. That is a huge step and her mother says it makes it so much easier to hold her tiny little girl. Mom is being housed at a nearby Ronald McDonald house and is spending as much time as possible at the hospital with her daughter. Doctors say it may be July before Anja is ready to come home.

I can't even imagine.

Please continue to keep this mother and her baby in your thoughts and prayers.


...and thank you!

[dirty ethel rackham]

Thanks for the update! What a fighter! We will keep Anja and her parents in our prayers!

[mamao32001]

Praying here! My cousin lost twins at 23 weeks. However, I've know others with babies smaller who have survived.

[Mamagistra]

Great news! What a little miracle! :001_smile:

[*anj*]

That is good news indeed. I'll be praying for both of them.

[Shanna]

WOW!!! I will definitely be praying for this family.

[Sue G in PA]

Such good news. I was just thinking about them earlier today. God is good!

[Tracey in TX]

Holding your baby for the first time is such a blessing! WTG Anja! 2# is a big milestone. She must be a great fighter.
She's almost big enough for doll clothes to wear (if hospital approves) instead of naked/diaper. Congrats to the family.
Still sending up prayers,

[Doran]

Praying here! My cousin lost twins at 23 weeks. However, I've know others with babies smaller who have survived.


:)

[Doran]

Baby Anja reached 3lbs. on Monday of this week!!!! She is off the face mask-type of oxygen support, freeing her tiny mouth to begin experimenting with nursing. She's too little yet to have all the necessary suck/swallow reflexes, but she's getting there. If her progress and weight gain continue this way, it's possible she and her mother could come home in June rather than in July as originally predicted. What a blessing that would be!

Thanks for continuing to keep them in your hearts, if you feel so inclined.

:001_smile:

[*anj*]

Woohoo!!!! Go Anja, go!!!! :hurray::thumbup1:

[Doran]

.

[Doran]

I received a call from my friend yesterday who tells me that she and her little trooper, Anja, are scheduled to be released sometime this weekend (June 20ish). From a tiny little 1.5 lb. babe at birth, Anja has grown up enough that she can come home. Now, the focus shifts to helping support mama with caring for her child without the aide of the medical team who have been so great through all of this.

Anja will still have monitors and some oxygen support needs, so it won't be quite like bringing home a perfectly healthy newborn. There will be many hurdles, not the least of which will be trying to protect Anja from infections as simple as the common cold in these early weeks of life outside the hospital. But, this baby has proven herself to be a real fighter, and that's a good thing!

Thank you all for any support you have given and can continue to offer through your thoughts and prayers.