The only good thing was that I only gained 13 pounds. And then of course, being able to wear my normal size jeans home from the hospital was sort of a good thing too.

Tell me this isn't happening.....

I remember waking up in the delivery room surrounded by a group of student doctors who thought our premature baby story would be a great case for learning.
Now, when you're in labor and giving birth, you're not exactly interested in participating in a session of "questions and answers" from the class. All I could think was that whoever wasn't my doctor or me, needed to GET OUT. The only thing missing from this nightmare scenario was a video camera, which fortunately for me, hadn't been invented yet.

When our daughter was born at one pound, seven ounces, her doctors didn't give her a very good prognosis. Like all newborns, she dropped some weight and for Amanda, every ounce was critical. When she weighed in at her lowest weight at 1 pound, ½ ounce, she looked like a poster child on a commercial showing the starving children in the world.

At that point, we weren't at all sure how this premature baby story would turn out.....

You mean it's not up to us?

There are no words to describe the emotional turmoil you experience as you watch your premature baby struggle to find health, strength, and the will to keep fighting.

We were forced to accept that we couldn't control our daughter's destiny. We had to let God handle tomorrow because we needed His help just to make it through that day. What a concept, trusting God to take care of tomorrow while you focus on today……

During her hospital stay, Amanda definitely had her fair share of complications. But even after all the surgeries and all the excellent care she'd received, her doctor told us she would still be legally blind, deaf, and would probably not be able to sit up or walk.

Things are not always as they appear to be

But after four long months in the hospital, at a whopping 4 pounds, 4 ounces, we finally took Amanda home. We dressed her in red Cabbage Patch bib overalls.

After about a month at home, we noticed she was visually following objects and responding to sounds. The doctors couldn't explain it, but we knew our daughter would do more than they ever dreamed.

Amanda's initial educational evaluation tools showed that she couldn't master many skills. We didn't tell Amanda, and we wouldn't let her teachers tell her either. We did tell her that her special gifts were perseverance and tenacity, and that she needed to be the example for the other kids so they could see that she wouldn't give up, no matter what.

Our daughter was born with a heart for helping others. Her goal in life is to make a difference in someone else's life. We don't know what the future holds for Amanda, but we're sure that her premature baby story will be remembered by all the people who know her.

Tell Me about Your Preemie, and how God did a miracle for you too!

Parents who find themselves in this situation need to hear positive, life giving stories that show just how much God will help if they ask.

Go ahead....be a blessing.

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