For Holly

I said in my previous blog that I had personal experience with premature birth. I personally haven't had a premie child, but someone in my life even closer than Gracie was.

Her name: Holly-relationship: sister. Yup that's right, my sister holly was born at 25-29 weeks from my calculations. She weighed in at 1 lb 5 oz when she was born.( I haven't actually asked my mom how far along she was when she was born, but this is what I have figured it to be) She was all of 12 inches long.

Now if you know me, you know very well that she has survived to this day and is now a healthy 18 year old about to graduated high school. You would never guess she was 18 or even my sister some days. She is stick skinny, blue eyes, light brown, super curly hair. Where I am not so skinny, dark brown hair, and brown eyes.

She was born on Dec. 8, 1989. She wasn't expected to survive (10% chance) and if she did she was never going to walk or talk. Well they certainly were wrong! She beat all the odds! She walks and talks VERY well and even knows how to drive my mom crazy.

I was all of 8 years old when she was born. It was of course right before christmas. We woke up that morning and my dad told us we had a new sister. Hard to believe when I wasnt' even sure I knew my mom was pregnant. Then my dad asked what we should name her, well we came up with Holly b/c of christmas. She got her middle name by accident, but it still works. She was in the NICU at Baystate Hospital in springfield for 5.5 months. Mind you, we lived 1.5 hours away from that hospital, but we were able to go and see her any time we wanted too. I was even able to see her in her incubator.

She did have a heart murmur that required surgery. SHe was hooked up to all the tubes and wires one could possibly imagine. She was tiny and I think she always will be. When she was finally able to come home, my parents had to take a cpr course and she also had a heart monitor one. My dad stopped working and stay home and cared for all of us. The rest of us were in school.

I should also mention she is a great Auntie to Mr. Avery.

She is our miracle in our family even though she might not want to admit that she was ever that small.

So here is another good reason to donate to the MOD. They are here to help all the little babies in the world survive and become strong. I know they helped Amy and Joe and I'm sure they would have helped my family if they were around then.(Being 8, you don't remember a lot of things, and also sometimes your family doesn't share the things with you)

*ok not where i wanted the pics, but i have no idea how to fix it! I will figure it out someday! any pointers let me know!