Gabriella received lots of help during her first few years of life- a teacher in our house 2 days a week, a teacher’s aid 2 days as well. OT weekly, Speech therapy to first work with her swallowing and oral adversions (she was on the vent for 28 days and didn’t nipple feed until she was 1 1/2 months old) and later speech. She had a nurse who came to the house monthly to measure her head (what a waste of time and money) and PT every other week. She also attended our NICU’s high risk clinic. She later started OT for sensory integration issues. She is very beautiful now. She doesn’t have that preemie look that so many of the older preemies have. She volunteers with our NICU Family Support Group, is running for class secretary, and is very uncoordinated. They say she gets that from her Nanny (grandmother).

I wish you and your family the strength to see that you can get through this difficult time even stronger than before. You will get through this time and look back on it with a sense of love, not only for Abigail, but for the Doctors and Nurses who cared for her during her hospital stay with such kindness.