World Prematurity Day

November 17 is World Prematurity Day, a day when we focus on the global (and our very personal) problem of premature birth.

Shawn on the day he was born.
10/27/07

A day when millions of people around the world join together to Honor babies born too soon.

Jason on the day he was born.
He was so, so sick here. :-(

A day we celebrate the tremendous strength and determination our our little fighters.

Isaac's ring on Jason's foot.
It could have easily gone up his entire leg.

Being premature means more than babies are just born small. 

Isaac's ring on a tiny hand.

For more than a million babies each year, prematurity means they won't make it to their first birthday.

Mommy giving Shawn a kiss.
11/4/07

While other parents get to take their newborns home to snuggle and enjoy,

Mommy kissing Jason.
11/4/07

parents of preemies spend days...weeks...or like in our case, months sitting at their babies' bedside

Daddy meeting his boy for the first time.
Shawn

wishing, praying, hoping, and pleading that their babies get well enough to come home.

Daddy meeting his second boy.
Jason

On November 17, we'll be wearing purple to remember the battle we faced because of prematurity.

Daddy holding Shawn for the first time.

We'll be wearing purple in honor of all very special preemies in our lives.

Mommy holding Jason for the first time.

Please join us in wearing purple to show your awareness of the millions of premature babies world wide and to honor the preemie babies in your life.

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The post I wrote for last year's World Prematurity Day.
The post I wrote for 2010's World Prematurity Day.