Today we celebrate World Prematurity Day! On December 10, 2009, our youngest, Josie Brooklyn, was born at 25 1/2 weeks gestation and weighed just 1 lb. 6 oz. In the first photo below you can see a penny by her left foot to give some perspective on just how tiny she was! After battling in the NICU for 6 months, we finally brought her home. Thanks to everyone who prayed for us day after day. I know some of you still do. Thank you! Josie is a precious gift!
Thinking back on those months when Josie was at Arkansas Children’s Hospital brings back so many feelings. We’re grateful for life, for great medical care, for the prayers of thousands of friends and strangers, and for a merciful God. I have a heart for micropreemie moms—the one who has to leave her baby in the NICU every night, for months. I pray for your heart to be filled to the brim with the peace of Christ that passes all understanding! You are not alone.
Help raise awareness by sharing YOUR story or honoring the life of a little one in the comments below!
My story starts when my mother was pregnant for 4 months before delivering via emergency C-Section on May 22 2005
I weighed 1 pound and was 15 inches
I struggled with health issues and still struggle
I keep an oxygen tank with me so that I can breathe while in school and out and about
My first 45 months of living were spent in the hospital because of many medical issues
I have Craniosynostosis and it rare but I know that Christ has the last say and he healed me but I live with it forever but am grateful that I am still living and thriving on Earth
Hello! My name is Maddie and I was born on November 20th, 2000 at 21 weeks weighing in at a whopping 1 pound 10 ounces! I stayed in the NICU for 9 months I believe before I was sent home. A little info about myself; I have been a longtime fan of the show and while I am not religious myself, I love your wholesome family values. I am 21 years old as of right now and I am in my junior year of college studying in Wisconsin to become a social studies teacher! I just wanted to tell you my story since it was so hard on my mom with me being in the hospital for so long, and that it gets better! I have lived a happy healthy normal life so far and have loved every moment of it!
She looks like a little princess, you have been blessed.
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 I cannot even imagine the suffering you are currently enduring and want you to know that I pray for you. I pray the Lord strengthens you and your family to be able to endure what is happening. Michelle, from one mama to another, I have a special place in my heart for you and send up extra mama prayers for your dear heart that must be hurting so much. 💕💕💕 Much love and continued prayers for you. God bless you all. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
I had my youngest at 26 weeks 1 day a year ago. He weighed 1 pound 6 Oz. He was in the Nicu for 6 months. It was a very long journey. We’re blessed that God worked with the doctors and nurses every step of the way.
My little girl was born at 26 weeks. 2.5 lbs. She was born dead, but so thankful God brought her back to life and 2 months later we met for the first time (and eventually adopted her). Even though, she fights CP and can’t walk or eat, she has the best attitude and teaches so much about joy.
I was born a preemie. I was born 24 weeks. I remember when the episode aired. I pray for your family all the time. I’ve been watching you guys since I was little. God bless you.
I didn’t have a premature baby, but I know what it’s like to stay in the hospital with your children fighting for their lives. We’ve had several kids with medical issues who’ve been hospitalized. Our longest and most difficult hospitalization was with our daughter Gracie. We were with her for 6 weeks before she died. She was just 4 months old. It was a long, hard road, but we kept our eyes fixed on Jesus. I’ve never grown closer to my Savior than in that difficult time. And thankfully I’ll see her again one day. In the meantime, God called me to open a nonprofit that helps families with kids in the hospital. It has been such an amazing blessing to be a part of. You can read more about it at loveofgrace.org
Josie was born on my birthday. But I was born early so was my little sisters